Child Abuse Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Child Abuse, including details on family violence, examinations, long-term effects, psychiatrics disorders.

Influencing policymaking for maltreated children and their families.

Portwood SG, Dodgen DW

University of Missouri-Kansas City, USA. sgportwo@email.uncc.edu

Public policy can be a powerful tool for children and their families. Accordingly, this article addresses how psychologists and other child-oriented researchers can leverage this tool to ensure that child and family issues, specifically issues related to child abuse and neglect, receive adequate attention. We encourage a bidirectional relationship between policymakers and experts in child maltreatment through which policymakers solicit and employ relevant expertise, and psychologists, in turn, provide useful information to policymakers. To facilitate such relationships, this article offers practical guidance to psychologists on understanding the policymaking process, gaining familiarity with relevant policy, communicating effectively with policymakers, and understanding the unique contributions that psychologists can make to the policy process.

Published 19 October 2005 in J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 34(4): 628-37.
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