NCJ Number
237699
Date Published
July 2011
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This brief from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Youth addresses the need for child maltreatment prevention.
Abstract
Recent research has shown that child maltreatment prevention efforts have been effective in reducing the rate of child maltreatment, with significant decreases in sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse being observed between 1993 and 2006. Nonetheless, child maltreatment continues to be a substantial threat to a child's well-being and health development. This brief examines the history of child abuse prevention and discusses efforts currently being used to prevent abuse. Promising prevention strategies identified in the brief include public awareness efforts, child sexual assault prevention classes, parent education and support groups, home visitation, and community prevention efforts. Key challenges must be addressed as the prevention field changes and moves forward. These challenges include improving the ability to reach all those at risk, determining how best to intervene with diverse ethnic and cultural groups, identifying ways to use technology to expand provider participant contact and service access, and achieving a balance between enhancing formal services and strengthening informal supports. References