Prevention is the best hope for reducing child abuse and neglect and improving the lives of children and families. Strengthening families and preventing child abuse requires a shared commitment among individuals and organizations in every community. The following resources discuss the framework for child abuse and neglect prevention; provide information on what to do when children are at risk for abuse or neglect; and visioning or re-visioning prevention of child abuse & neglect.
- What is prevention and why is it important?
- Framework for prevention of child maltreatment
- When children are at risk
- Federal agencies associated with preventing child abuse and neglect
Child Abuse and Neglect
healthychildren.org (2022)
Shares an overview of the risk factors, symptoms, and signs of child abuse and neglect as well as outcomes associated with children and youth who experience child abuse and neglect and how to seek help.
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: Keeping Children Safe and Strengthening Families and Communities (PDF - 1,432 KB)
Casey Family Programs (2019)
Describes the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), including background information on the law, national and State-specific funding levels, and how CAPTA influences programs to keep children safe and strengthen families and communities.
Child Maltreatment Prevention: Past, Present, and Future
How Can Child Welfare Leaders and Providers Reimagine Support for Children and Families?
Casey Family Programs (2021)
Discusses how data, public perception, and policy changes can be used to pivot the child welfare system to increasingly provide child maltreatment prevention and family support services.
Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption
Overview of Child Neglect and Abuse
Pekarsky (2021)
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation
Provides an overview of child abuse and neglect, including what constitutes abuse and neglect, diagnosing abuse and neglect, symptoms associated with abuse and neglect, and ways to provide treatment.
Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities (PDF - 3,997 KB)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)
Offers a compilation of evidence-based strategies to help prevent child abuse and neglect, including strengthening economic supports for families, changing social norms to support parents, participating in quality early child care and education, and enhancing parenting skills. The resource also includes interventions to reduce future risk.
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021)
Defines child abuse and neglect and how it is a large-scale problem and provides strategies for how to prevent it.
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
Prevention Planning into Action
Capacity Building Center for States
Provides resources and tools to support and engage agencies and their staff in prevention planning.
Visioning/Re-Visioning Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect
Building an “UnSystem” to Promote Primary Prevention
Children’s Bureau Express, 22(6)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau (2021)
Guides child welfare agencies on how to change their system to one with the main goal of keeping families together through primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. This type of system is locally based, antiracist, and requires a shift in thinking about child welfare.
How Can Child Welfare Leaders and Providers Reimagine Support for Children and Families?
Casey Family Programs (2021)
Discusses how data, public perception, and policy changes can be used to pivot the child welfare system to increasingly provide child maltreatment prevention and family support services.
Leading With Prevention
American Public Human Services Association (2021)
Access resources for State and local leaders to help advance prevention strategies to better build child and family well-being.
National Partnership to Reinvent Child Welfare Expands to Additional States; Now in 22 Locales
Casey Family Programs (2021)
Describes the Thriving Families, Safer Children initiative and how it has expanded its reach to include child welfare jurisdictions in 22 States.
Transforming Child Welfare: Prioritizing Prevention, Racial Equity, and Advancing Child and Family Well-Being
Thomas & Halbert (2021)
National Council on Family Relations
Explains how primary prevention and race equity should be prioritized in the child welfare system. The brief outlines how prevention programs should be expanded so that they are accessible before families are at serious risk of experiencing maltreatment and instructs child welfare leaders to confront and dismantle racist policies and programs and partner with communities of color to enact change.
Visioning for Prevention: Protecting Children Through Strengthening Families
Capacity Building Center for States
Offers a collection of various resources about how agencies can collaborate with families, communities, and service providers to share their vision and develop strategies to support families and build capacity.