Behavioral Assessment of Child-Abusive and Neglectful Families

Recent developments and current issues in the behavioral assessment of child-abusive and neglectful families are described. Procedures for the assessment of target behaviors in a variety of areas that may be related to the occurrence of further maltreatment and improved family functioning are reviewed. The primary emphasis is on measures recently developed for maltreating populations, although some measures discussed were developed for nonmaltreating populations. A variety of issues that commonly arise in the assessment of maltreating families and future directions for practice and research are also addressed.