GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION We have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we have only borrowed it from our children.                Ancient Proverb And yet, somehow, instead of children being treated as the priceless elements that they are, they have been brutalized at alarming rates, in large part by their parents and caretakers. It is imperative that we, as clinicians, be armed with a clear understanding of what child abuse really is, how we can best identify it, how we can treat the aftermath of child abuse and restore health and vitality to our young people, and how to utilize the child protection system to better enable offenders and families to stop the cycle. This introductory course is comprised of twelve (12) articles. The first and second articles present basic statistics, demographics and prevalence associated with child abuse. Four articles about sexual abuse follow these: myths are dispelled, offender and victim traits, characteristics and dynamics are reviewed and the sequelae of sexual abuse are explored. Articles seven through nine contain information about child abuse, its consequences and impacts for those in special populations, and interventions that are currently in use. The tenth article provides useful information for those investigating child abuse, and the eleventh article presents the laws for reporting child abuse in different states. The final article provides a list of resources for the general public as well as for the clinician.