Everyone has a role to play in identifying and responding to child abuse and family violence. This book is written for professionals and paraprofessionals who work with children and their families, and post-secondary students. Early childhood educators, teachers, nurses, social workers, and others are in unique positions to identify children and families at risk for abuse, and to report their suspicions to the appropriate authorities. They are also in unique positions to respond to children and families when abuse has occurred, and help children and families through the healing. They are well placed to educate and support children and families, and possibly prevent child abuse and violence. Reaching Out provides information clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of those providing services to children and families with respect to child abuse, neglect, and family violence.

Chapter 1: Child Abuse Defined
Chapter 2: The Causes and Dynamics of Child Abuse
Chapter 3: Personal Responses to Child Abuse
Chapter 4: Clues and Cues
Chapter 5: The Disclosure of Child Abuse
Chapter 6: The System’s Response to Child Abuse
Chapter 7: Allegations Against Those Working in the Field
Chapter 8: Helping the Child and Family
Chapter 9: Perspectives on Prevention
Chapter 10: Achieving a Broader Perspective

Everyone has a role to play in identifying and responding to child abuse and family violence. This book is written for professionals and paraprofessionals who work with children and their families, and post-secondary students. Early childhood educators, teachers, nurses, social workers, and others are in unique positions to identify children and families at risk for abuse, and to report their suspicions to the appropriate authorities. They are also in unique positions to respond to children and families when abuse has occurred, and help children and families through the healing. They are well placed to educate and support children and families, and possibly prevent child abuse and violence. Reaching Out provides information clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of those providing services to children and families with respect to child abuse, neglect, and family violence. The text expands upon developments in the research and practice in this field, particularly with the growth of the Internet and social media. Statistics and examples presented in the text have been thoroughly updated. Chapter 9: Perspectives on Prevention addresses how professionals can help to prevent child abuse from occurring by reading early warning signs. New legal information related to the revised Criminal Code of Canada has been included.