1. Sign up securely online.
2. Read/watch articles & videos.
3. Submit evaluation & post-test.
4. Print your certificate.
Course Materials:
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 twenty-one (21) articles and a short video. The first three articles present basic statistics, demographics, and prevalence associated with child abuse. These are followed by four articles about sexual abuse and trauma: myths are dispelled, offender and victim traits, characteristics and dynamics are reviewed, and the sequelae of sexual abuse are explored. Following these articles is a short video provided by the LA Unified School District outlining what constitutes child abuse and who is required to report within the school district. The next nine articles contain information about child abuse, its consequences and impacts for those in special populations, and interventions that are currently in use. Three articles follow which provide useful information for those investigating child abuse, especially those who serve as mandated reporters. The final article provides a list of resources for the general public as well as for the clinician.
Educational Objectives:
This course will teach psychotherapists to
Recognize signs of child abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect.
Identify impacts of physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse on children.
Summarize the impacts on children living in homes in which there is Domestic Violence.
Report the specific potential for child abuse in homes in which one or both parents abuse or is addicted to alcohol or other substances.
List unique concerns for homeless children with regards to child abuse.
Identify factors which increase the vulnerability to child abuse of children in the foster care system.
Review the treatments which enhance recovery from child abuse.
List long-term sequelae, which may develop following the experience of any form of child abuse.
Course Syllabus:
Child Abuse Defined
Definition
Emotional Abuse
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Neglect
Statistics
Demographics
Incidence & Prevalence
Impacts of Abuse
Identification of Child Victims
Traits and Profiles
Intervention
Child Abuse Reporting Laws
Child Abuse Resources for Assessment and Reporting