Maltreatment of Children: An American Perspective

Abstract

The maltreatment of children is not a new problem, nor is it an isolated phenomenon in the United States. Maltreatment of children is deeply entwined with historical values and perspectives and has been defined and redefined throughout history. Each period of history - as well as each culture - has a concept of how children should be treated. American society is slowly emerging from viewing children as property, subject to the whims of the family and society, to recognizing that children have rights of their own. This paper explores the history of child maltreatment; traces American policy initiatives designed to address the problem; and examines the evolving roles of medical, social, law enforcement, and judicial services in developing integrated responses to the problem in the United States.