A family by court order undergoes treatment by a family therapist for child abuse. The nurse, who is the child's case manager knows that treatment has been effective when:

Removing an abused child from the home and placement in a foster home are not the desired outcome of treatment. Children who are perceived as 'different' from the rest of the family are more likely to be abused. Although legal action may be taken against abusive parents, it is not an indicator of an effective treatment program. Identification of age-appropriate behaviors is essential to the role of parents, because misunderstanding children's normal developmental needs often contributes to abuse or neglect.