Results of Evaluations of Child Abuse Prevention Programs

Use the following resources to find reports that summarize the effectiveness of general child abuse prevention programs, and evaluations of specific types or models of prevention programs.

• Parent education and support
• State and local examples

Child Maltreatment Prevention: A Systematic Review of Reviews
Mikton & Butchart (2009)
Reviews the effectiveness of seven types of child maltreatment prevention interventions as well as the methodological quality of the evaluations. The report found home visiting, parent education, and child sexual abuse prevention programs were most effective in reducing risk factors for child maltreatment. (PDF - 762 KB)

Child Physical Abuse and Neglect: Risk Assessment and Evaluation of Early Prevention Programs
Grietens (2010)
In Improving Outcomes for Children and Families: Finding and Using International Evidence
View Abstract
Explains how preventive care for young children in Flanders is organized and what is meant by prevention of child maltreatment. The article presents the theoretical framework underlying a research program that used an interactional view of child maltreatment is described, and main findings of the study.

Differential Program Evaluation Model in Child Protection
Lalayants (2012)
Child Welfare, 91(4)
View Abstract
Discusses the uses of differential program evaluation models by demonstrating them through the four stages of program initiation. This case study contributed to the model by introducing essential and interrelated elements of a practical evaluation methodology in evaluating social programs, such as a participatory evaluation approach; learning, empowerment and sustainability; and a flexible individualized approach to evaluation.

Healthy Families America Research Findings
Presents key findings from Healthy Families program evaluations across the country.

A Multilevel Evaluation of a Comprehensive Child Abuse Prevention Program
Lawson, Alameda-Lawson, & Byrnes (2012)
Research on Social Work Practice, 22(5)
View Abstract
Examines the extent to which participation in a county-wide prevention program leads to improvements in protective factors associated with child abuse prevention and whether improvements in measured protective factors relate to decreased odds of child abuse. The study concluded more robustly specified interventions and supports are needed to enhance outcomes for the majority of families targeted by the program, including those who present the greatest vulnerability for child abuse.

National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches: Assessing Program Outcomes (PDF - 468 KB)
Jaycox, Hickman, Schultz, Barnes-Proby, Setodji, Kofner, Harris, Acosta, & Francoi (2011)
Shares the results of Safe Start Promising Approaches which was intended to implement and evaluate promising and evidence-based programs in community settings. The main body of this report provides information on the designs of the studies, instruments used, data collection and cleaning, analytic methods, and an overview of the results across the 15 program sites.

Population-Based Prevention of Child Maltreatment: The U.S. Triple P System Population Trial
Prinz, Sanders, Shapiro, Whitaker, & Lutzker (2009)
Prevention Science
Offers results from a national, randomized study of an evidence-based parenting intervention that found large effect sizes for substantiated child maltreatment, child out-of-home placements, and child maltreatment injuries.

Preventing Child Maltreatment (PDF - 1,505 KB)
McLanahan (Ed.) (2009)
Future of Children, 19(2)
Presents articles examining the role of the child protection system in prevention and assessing the effectiveness of different types of prevention programs.