Home > School-based Child Maltreatment Programs: Synthesis of Lessons Learned > School-based Child Maltreatment Programs: Synthesis of Lessons Learned: General Service Approaches and Outcomes

School-Based Child Maltreatment Programs: Synthesis of Lessons Learned
Grantee Lessons Learned

Author(s):  Children's Bureau (DHHS)

Year Published:  2003

Email Order (Free)  Print  (PDF 200 KB)  Share

Rate This    Not yet rated.

previous

You are in section: Table of Contents 1 - General Service Approaches… 2 - Lessons Learned 3 - Conclusion Appendix A - Project Information Appendix B - Contact Information

next

1 - General Service Approaches and Outcomes

Services provided by the demonstration projects fit three general categories: child maltreatment identification-related services, primary prevention services and activities, and intervention-related services. Grantees typically focused on one or two of these service types.

1.1 Child Maltreatment Identification-related Services

Grantees trained or assisted teachers and other professionals in identifying the signs of child maltreatment and in making appropriate referrals to services and reports to child protective services agencies. Activities included:

• Training on identifying and reporting child maltreatment. The primary goals of these trainings were to increase participants' knowledge of the signs of child abuse or neglect, how to meet mandated reporting requirements if child maltreatment is suspected, and how to make appropriate referrals to services if necessary.
  
  
• Assisting teachers in identifying the signs of child maltreatment. Grantees developed risk assessment protocols for teachers to use in identifying children who may be at risk for child maltreatment, trained teachers in the correct use of the protocols, and provided individual technical assistance in identifying signs of child maltreatment and making referrals to community services.
  
  

Outcomes. Participants demonstrated an increased understanding of the roles and procedures associated with child abuse and neglect investigations. Teachers who attended trainings also indicated a greater willingness to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect than those who had not attended.

1.2 Primary Prevention Services/Activities

Services classified as primary prevention are designed to increase the knowledge and skills of teachers, parents, and children regarding appropriate discipline and parenting practices, positive adult-child and peer interactions, and nonviolent responses to stress or conflict. These services were offered to the general population, rather than to populations identified as at risk for child maltreatment. They included:

• Parenting education for the general population. Parenting education for the general population took place both in structured settings such as workshops and training sessions and in unstructured settings such as support groups.
  
  
• Teacher education. The objectives of these services were to create nurturing and violence-free classrooms and to support teachers in serving as positive role models for children in responding to stressful events.
  
  
• Special activities/presentations for children and youth. These included activities for children such as self-esteem groups, teen mom programs, and mentoring programs; presentations of skills-based curricula for children such as Kids on the Block and Talking About Touch; and training for teachers on implementing a particular classroom curriculum.
  
  
• Special activities/presentations for families and parents. These activities were designed to present child maltreatment-related information through events such as community fairs, walk-a-thons, and school fairs.
  
  
• Public awareness campaigns. Activities included distributing promotional items, offering health screenings, and printing newsletters to increase public knowledge regarding child maltreatment, available services, and trainings.
  
  

Outcomes. Teachers who participated in prevention services demonstrated an increased understanding of the principles of nonviolence, appropriate discipline, and nurturing behaviors. They also integrated what they learned into their classroom behavior and lesson plans. Children who attended prevention presentations showed an increased awareness of safety issues and demonstrated greater knowledge of child abuse and neglect. In some cases, this led to disclosures about their own experiences of maltreatment. The community at large benefited from public awareness campaigns by becoming more knowledgeable about child maltreatment issues and the community services available to support families.

1.3 Intervention-related Services

This category includes services delivered to children and families identified as at risk for child maltreatment or children who were suspected victims of child maltreatment.

• Direct services to at-risk families. Direct services included home visits, case management, counseling, therapy, mentoring, and food and clothing.
  
  
• Direct services to at-risk children. These services included support groups, social events, tutoring, counseling, and therapy.
  
  
• Technical assistance and training in responding to suspected or disclosed child maltreatment. Some projects provided individual technical assistance and guidance to teachers in responding to children's disclosure of child maltreatment. Others included the topic of responding to suspected or disclosed child maltreatment as part of their training for teachers and professionals.
  
  
• Parenting education for at-risk families. Parenting education efforts for families identified as at risk generally involved presenting an established curriculum in a series of sessions.
  
  
• Developing resource directories and/or service guidelines. Some projects developed resource directories or service guidelines designed to be used by schools or other agencies in making child abuse and neglect reports and referring families for appropriate services.
  
  

Outcomes. Children who received intervention services generally experienced improved school performance, increased attendance, and fewer behavior problems. Participating parents demonstrated significant gains in their knowledge of how the child maltreatment reporting system works, knowledge about stress and violence, and increased awareness of the implications of children as a source of parental stress. For at least one grantee, intervention-related services proved cost effective. The annual cost for an at-risk family to participate in the grantee's program was far less than the annual cost for the Department of Human Services to assist a family referred for services.

previous

You are in section: Table of Contents 1 - General Service Approaches… 2 - Lessons Learned 3 - Conclusion Appendix A - Project Information Appendix B - Contact Information

next

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Email Order (Free)  Print  (PDF 200 KB)  Share

Updated on October 9, 2009