Abstract:
This document defines child maltreatment, presents associated terms, and recommends data elements for voluntary use by individuals and organizations in the public health community. It is designed to aid state and local health department staff in the collection of public health surveillance data on child maltreatment. This document is not intended to be a set of mandates; rather, it is intended to promote and improve consistency of child maltreatment surveillance for public health practices. The recommended data elements are designed to help people collect information of value for public health surveillance of child maltreatment and to serve as a technical reference for the collection of surveillance data. (Author Text)