Evidence-Based Practice in Child Abuse Prevention

Use the following resources to learn more about child abuse prevention programs and strategies supported by scientific research. These resources can help programs choose and implement evidence-based practices that will suit the needs of the families and communities they serve. Resources include State and local examples.

• Prevention evidence-based practice registries

The practices included below have been identified by their developers or an outside group as "evidence-based." Child Welfare Information Gateway and the Children's Bureau do not endorse individual practices or programs or make any claims about the effectiveness of the approaches described. This information is provided as a resource.

Applying the Principles of Prevention: What Do Prevention Practitioners Need to Know About What Works? (PDF - 196 KB)
Nation, Keener, Wandersman, & DuBois (2005)
Outlines key components of successful prevention programs and explains how to include each component.

Family Connections: National Program Replication Project
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Describes a community-based neglect prevention program targeting at-risk families with children between the ages of 5 and 11. Family Connections was the only program in the nation designated as "demonstrated effective" in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in the 2003 report, Emerging Practices in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Guidelines for CBCAP Lead Agencies on Evidence-Based and Evidence Informed Programs and Practices (PDF - 166 KB)
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) (2007)
Provides information on the background, guidelines, and requirements of the Office of Management and Budget Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) efficiency measures for federally funded CBCAP programs.

Integrating Evidence-Based Practices Into CBCAP Programs: A Tool for Critical Discussions
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
Guides State child abuse prevention programs through the process of integrating evidence-informed or evidence-based practices that are the best possible fit with their service population, mission, and resources.

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare
Describes programs reviewed and rated by the Clearinghouse for their effectiveness in preventing child abuse and neglect.

Promising Practices for Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
Promising Practices Network (2009)
Reviews the effectiveness of several approaches to child abuse and neglect prevention, such as public awareness and education, skill-based curricula for children and youth, parent education programs, home visitation programs, respite and crisis care services, and family resource centers.

Social Science Rising: A Tale of Evidence Shaping Public Policy (PDF - 216 KB)
Haskins, Paxson, & Brooks-Gunn (2009)
Details the research and actions preceding the Federal Government's investment in evidence-based nurse home visiting programs and discusses the lessons learned regarding getting policymakers to consider high-quality evidence when making program funding decisions.

Using Evidence-Based Parenting Programs to Advance CDC Efforts in Child Maltreatment Prevention (PDF - 115 KB)
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2004)
Describes several promising parenting interventions being implemented to lower child maltreatment incidence rates, including the Positive Parenting Program and Project SafeCare.

(Back to Top)

State and local examples

Child Maltreatment Prevention: Toward an Evidence-Based Approach (PDF - 1194 KB)
Slack, Jack, & Gjerston (Eds.) (2009)
Presents research on evidence-based practices, models, and programs that the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families will use to enhance child maltreatment prevention across the State.

Evidence-Based Practice and Outcome Accountability
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Provides information for child abuse prevention grantees on definitions, logic models, surveys, evaluation, strategies for locating evidence-based programs, and more.

States Using Evidence-Based Methods to Prevent Child Abuse (PDF - 565 KB)
National Conference of State Legislatures
Public Health News, 2004
Outlines States' effective child abuse prevention programs that include home visitation, comprehensive systems of care, working with families involved in the justice system, and child care and early childhood education facilities.

(Back to Top)