WHAT: An estimated 1,640 children died from abuse or neglect in the United States in 2012, while another 686,000 were victims of abuse, according to the most recent federal statistics. Psychologists who work with children and parents can explain why abuse occurs, its immediate and long-term effects on children and ways to prevent it. The following American Psychological Association members are available for interviews:

WHO: Ernestine C. Briggs-King, PhDDurham, N.C. Email:[email protected]Phone: (919) 599-0572Website: http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/Ernestine_Briggs_%20bio.pdf

Newswise — Briggs specializes in evidence-based practices to reduce child abuse and trauma. She is director of the data and evaluation program at Duke University’s National Center for Child Traumatic Stress, and was previously a fellow at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center and the Medical University of South Carolina, where she researched the impact of family violence, child abuse and other youth trauma. Gail Goodman, PhDDavis, Calif. Email:[email protected]Phone: (530) 752-6981Website: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/Goodman/

A professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, Goodman has researched how abuse affects a child’s mental health and children’s ability to testify about abuse they have experienced or witnessed.

Yo Jackson, PhDLawrence, Kan. Email:[email protected]Phone:(785) 864-3581Website: http://psych.ku.edu/people/faculty/jackson_yo.shtml

Resiliency of ethnic minority child victims of abuse and trauma is Jackson’s area of specialty. She is associate professor of clinical child psychology at the University of Kansas.

Alan Kazdin, PhDNew Haven, Conn.Email:[email protected]Phone:(203) 432-9993Website: http://alankazdin.com/

As director of the Yale Parenting Center, Kazdin focuses on domestic violence and children, child rearing and interpersonal violence. Kazdin is the John M. Musser professor of psychology and child psychiatry at Yale University. He was APA president in 2008.

Lenore Walker, EdD, ABPPHollywood, Fla. Email: [email protected]Phone: (954) 224-9639Website: http://cps.nova.edu/faculty/profile/walker.html

Walker specializes in domestic violence’s impact on children and child abuse. She is a professor at Nova Southeastern University’s Center for Psychological Studies.

David A. Wolfe, PhD London, OntarioEmail:[email protected] Phone:(519) 858-5161Website: http://www.camh.ca/en/research/about_research_at_CAMH/scientific_staff_profile/Pages/David-Wolfe.aspx

Based at Ontario’s Centre for Prevention Science, Wolfe and his research team developed an international program to help reduce violence and abuse among youth. He is past editor-in-chief of Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal and a professor at the University of Toronto. BACKGROUND:

Congress designated April “National Child Abuse Prevention Month” in 1983. APA provides in-depth information and resources to raise awareness of and prevent child abuse at Protecting Our Children From Abuse and Neglect.

________________________________________The American Psychological Association, in Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. APA's membership includes nearly 130,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people's lives.________________________________________

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