Child Maltreatment Prevention: Past, Present, and Future

This issue brief looks at how child maltreatment prevention efforts have grown and changed substantially over the last half century and discusses the importance of prevention as a critical component of the nation’s child protection system. It outlines programs and strategies that are proving beneficial in reducing the likelihood of child maltreatment, such as public awareness efforts, parent education, home visitation, and community prevention efforts. Key challenges and opportunities for the future of child maltreatment prevention are addressed.