Interventions with Young Children Who Have Been Multiply Abused

Abstract

This article provides an overview of theory-driven interventions for young children who have been multiply abused and their families. The interventions are based primarily upon two theories: (1) Developmental-ecological theory provides a conceptual framework for understanding the context of abuse, and for planning effective interventions for the individual, the parents, and the family, and other social contexts; (2) Attachment theory provides a conceptual framework for understanding the disordered parent/child relationships that can lead to or result from maltreatment, and can suggest directions for intervention.