A Community-Based Prevention Approach: Examples from the Field
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A Community-Based Prevention Approach: Examples from the Field Rosie Gomez1 · Julie Fliss2 Published online: 7 January 2019 © This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply 2019
Abstract The issue of child maltreatment is complex and requires community-based solutions to ensure the well-being of children and families. The prevention of maltreatment, both primary and secondary, involves a unique understanding of community context and individual’s behavior as it relates to society. It is important to promote practice principles believed to mitigate stressors that could lead to child maltreatment and overall, to support improved outcomes for children and families. These principles include building the capacity of communities to offer locally based services and supports that address the unique needs of children and families, and strengthen parental capacity to protect and provide for their children. However, the prevention of child abuse is not just about services, but about embracing and changing norms—those community and individual beliefs and expectations about how we should behave, and the understanding that there is knowledge to be gained from the community that individuals come from. This article presents examples from a nation-wide, federally funded program that strengthens families and prevents child maltreatment through community-based solutions that embrace social norms and promote collaboration and coordination across related efforts at the state and local level. Keywords Prevention · Community-based · Child abuse · Child maltreatment · Family · Children · Protective factors · Primary prevention · Social norms · Family support · Community norms The family relationship is important to the health and wellbeing of a child. Ensuring that parents have the ability to provide a safe and caring environment, free from abuse and neglect, is essential. In the past few years, the rate of child abuse has increased in the United States. In 2016, 4.1 million referrals were received by Child Protective Services. This is a 14.7% increase in referrals since 2012. Furthermore, an estimated 676,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect, a 3.0% increase from the 2012 national estimate of 656,000 victims (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Communities have the ability to provide * Rosie Gomez [email protected] Julie Fliss [email protected] 1
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children’s Bureau/ ACYF/ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street SW ‑ 3rd Floor (3418 C), Washington, DC 20201, USA
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 330 C Street SW – 3rd Floor (3418 B), Washington, DC 20201, USA
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support to families, when necessary, given the knowledge of what is effective, and the understanding of the unique resources that will be successful based on the specific needs and characteristics of their community. Solutions already e
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