The American journal of orthopsychiatry
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Am J Orthopsychiatry · Oct 1993
Protecting severely abused children: clarifying the roles of criminal justice and child welfare.
Child abuse legislation and increased public scrutiny have made child abuse the main focus of child welfare agencies. As a criminal act, severe child abuse should be dealt with by the criminal justice system to protect both endangered children and the rights of accused parents. Thus relieved of excessive demands, child welfare agencies could refocus on treatment and services to economically disadvantaged clients. A framework for intervention in allegations of child abuse is proposed.
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A group of 20 children was assessed for possible effects at school age of prenatal exposure to methadone. Compared to a control group of 20 nonexposed children on measures of cognitive, social, and emotional development, and of achievement, no significant differences were found on cognitive tests, although methadone exposure was associated with lower IQ scores. Methadone-exposed children exhibited greater anxiety, aggression, and rejection than did those in the control group, and their mothers reported more behavior problems.
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Psychotherapists who treat therapist-patients confront a range of intense, often unexpected, countertransferential feelings that threaten to intrude on the course of treatment. The experience of the treating therapist is examined and discussed with particular attention to implications for clinical practice.
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An overview of recent findings about children and families in foster care describes the population, reviews positive and negative results of foster care, and raises such clinical and policy issues as the beneficial outcomes of long-term foster care, the economic crisis for foster parents, and the vulnerability of minority children and families. Implications for research are discussed.