Introduction

About the Children's Bureau

Established in 1912 and the oldest Federal agency with legislative responsibility for children, the Children's Bureau assists States in the delivery of child welfare services—services designed to protect children and strengthen families. Its current mandate includes responsibility for the coordination of child abuse and neglect programs. Located within the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, the mission of the Children's Bureau is to provide for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families through leadership, support for necessary services, and productive partnerships with States, Tribes, and communities.

The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect

The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) was established within the Children's Bureau to provide national leadership in the field of child maltreatment and in the prevention of abuse and neglect. While the primary responsibility for responding to cases of child maltreatment rests with State and local agencies, OCAN serves as the Federal focal point for child abuse and neglect issues. The agency oversees interagency collaborative efforts, including interagency agreements; sponsors national conferences; and leads special initiatives related to child abuse and neglect. OCAN supports prevention activities and assumes responsibility for building networks for family support through the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) Program. OCAN promotes improvements in Child Protective Service (CPS) systems in coordination with the Department of Justice, through the Children's Justice Act.

About the Conference

During April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect and its partners work to increase public awareness about the issue of child abuse and neglect. Together, we strive to educate both professionals and the general public about the important roles of prevention, family support, and community involvement in protecting children from abuse and neglect.

The theme of the 16^th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Protecting Children, Promoting Healthy Families, and Preserving Communities, reflects our resolve to ensure that every child enjoys a healthy family life in a nurturing community. It emphasizes our need to create safe havens for our children, enabling them to thrive at home and in their neighborhood. Further, the theme promotes the idea of communities joining to establish collaborative relationships and strategies to prevent child maltreatment and provide responsive services and treatment.

Goals of the 16^th National Conference include:

• Disseminating state-of-the-art information on research, practice, policy, and system reform
• Facilitating the exchange of information across disciplines and among individuals, groups, and institutions
• Reaching out to strengthen and sustain collaboration
• Highlighting the positive contribution of research to practice

The 16^th National Conference will bring together State Directors and key staff from the child abuse and neglect field; professionals representing the related disciplines of education, health care, law enforcement, the judiciary, substance abuse, and mental health; as well as academicians, researchers, members of the clergy, parents, advocates, and volunteers. We welcome and encourage you to join this broad collection of individuals committed to ensuring the protection of our nation's children and to participate in the 16^th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect.