In the past decade, children's exposure to violence has attracted more public interest and media attention than ever before. But addressing this problem will take more than concern and news coverage - it will require a comprehensive, focused research agenda. That's the goal of this timely, much-needed resource, which brings current research together, identifies gaps in our understanding of the effects of exposure to violence on children, and sets a direction for future research to support interventions and violence prevention. Focusing on three major types of violence -domestic violence, community violence, andwar and terrorism - two dozen foremost authorities discuss and assess up-to-date statistics and research on the prevalence of each type of violence in the lives of children from birth to age 17 the ways each type of violence might affect a child's physical health, psychological well-being, social development, and academic achievement promising interventions and programs for working with children exposed to violence; current and emerging public policies that address the issue of violence in the lives of children with and without disabilities; recommendations for future research and public policy that would support best practices; An essential resource for researchers, students, decision makers, and practitioners, this book will give readers the insight they need to work toward violence prevention and develop more evidence-based interventions for children and families. Clear, accessible, and compelling, this important book brings us closer to solving one of today's most prominent social problems.