This course will provide an overview of child abuse including recognition of abuse, reporting, and how abuse affects our society as a whole. Although this is an issue that takes place globally, this course will focus solely on child abuse in the United States. Specifically, this course will identify the different types of abuse that can happen to children including physical, psychological, sexual and neglect among others. Identifying and understanding the types of abuse that may occur is as important as knowing potential risk and protective factors in child abuse. The abuse of children is a tragic and growing problem that is important for anyone who works with children to understand.