The long-term treatment of victims of child abuse

Child abuse is defined as physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual injury inflicted upon children. It is a complex problem requiring a systematic approach to intervention and treatment. All family members are victims of child abuse. Because child abuse tends to be a cyclic problem, rooted in several generations of parenting, long-term treatment in the community must be available for abusing families, both adults and children. At the core of all successful treatment are the significant relationships which must be established between parents and the case worker and the abused child and the case worker. These relationships must be based on mutual trust, respect, and support-characteristics that are lacking in the relationships of most victims of child abuse. The nurse who works with abusing families in the community brings empathy, a knowledge and understanding of child development, and a holistic approach to health, growth, and change to the relationship. Nurses have a significant role on the child abuse treatment team as primary workers with the family, case managers, and liaisons in a multi-agency interventional effort.