Child emotional health and maltreatment Maltreatment of children is a critical issue requiring special attention. Advocacy for gun control and less violence on television, along with the development of educational initiatives focusing on non-violent resolution skills, and on family violence prevention and treatment may help the CFPC and family physicians address this serious problem. The CFPC and the university departments of family medicine should ensure that training and Continuing Medical Education programs address and emphasize the problems of family violence identification, prevention, and treatment. 2 Handicaps vary considerably, and a variety of resources must be available to meet the many needs of these children, to enable them to function at their optimal capacity. Families with disabled children are under added stress and often require both emotional and financial support.
Early diagnosis is very important so that families can come to terms with their situation.
A disproportionate number of disabled children are in lower socioeconomic groups. Many of these children live in poverty. Improving their standard of living, and making sure mothers and babies receive good preconception and prenatal care could lead to an overall improvement in their general health, and a decrease in disability rates. Disabled children are also vulnerable to child maltreatment. 10,11 Family physicians have important roles to play in early identification of problems, providing on-going care, and assisting in efforts to improve resources for disabled children and their families.