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Treating the Aftermath of Sexual Abuse: A Handbook for Working With Children in Care

NCJ Number
173302
Author(s)
M Osmond; D Durham; A Leggett; J Keating
Date Published
1998
Length
170 pages
Annotation
The approach described in this handbook to treating child victims of sexual abuse is based on the treatment foster care (TLC) model in which treatment is carried out in the child's daily living environment by sensitive and well-trained therapeutic foster caregivers.
Abstract
Experience with the TLC model suggests foster caregivers can reliably assist severely traumatized children. The handbook reviews basic information about the nature and progression of child sexual abuse, discusses the impact of abuse and trauma on child development and functioning; explores children's "stories" and examines how to work with these children to minimize the impact of abuse and trauma, demystifies treatment by providing guidelines for choosing the appropriate treatment format, reviews goals of treatment and describes a process for meeting these goals in the therapeutic milieu, and identifies tasks and skills necessary to help children in their daily living environment. The handbook includes vignettes of children's experiences in treatment foster care and also covers challenges in the therapeutic milieu and the dynamics of families of children who have been sexually abused. Four appendixes provide additional information on the effects and treatment of child sexual abuse. 156 references and 1 figure