Child Abuse Prevention Fundamentals: Program Models
What are the major prevention program models?
Generally, prevention programs are patterned after one of four models:
- Public awareness activities
- Parent education programs
- Skills-based curricula for children
- Home visitation programs.
Examples of each program model are provided below.
Public Awareness Activities
Public awareness activities are an important part of an overall approach
to addressing child abuse and neglect. Such activities have the potential
to reach diverse community audiences: parents and prospective parents;
children; and community members, especially professionals, who are
critical to the identification and reporting of abuse.
In designing prevention education and public information activities,
national, State, and local organizations use a variety of media to promote
these activities, including:
- Public service announcements
- Press releases
- Posters
- Information kits and brochures
- Television or video documentaries and dramas.
Through these media, communities are able to promote support for healthy
parenting practices, child safety skills, and protocols for reporting
suspected maltreatment.
One of the largest public awareness initiatives focuses on the
prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome. A national network of Don’t
Shake the Baby State contacts was established to ensure that all
professionals involved in the care of children (e.g., teachers,
physicians, nurses, home visitors, parent educators) would become aware of
the dangers associated with shaking infants. In addition to professionals,
this campaign targets parents to alert them to the dangers of shaking
their baby as well as playing with the baby in certain ways (e.g.,
throwing the baby in the air, bouncing the baby on a knee, twisting the
baby in the air).
Another organization engaged in public awareness activities is the
National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (NCPCA). NCPCA, together with
Marvel Comics, developed Spider-Man comic books that address child sexual
abuse and child safety issues. NCPCA also distributes an information
packet each year to assist community groups planning Child Abuse
Prevention Month activities. Both the national office and over 100 NCPCA
State chapters throughout the country provide public awareness and other
activities to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Additionally, State Children’s Trust Funds (CTFs) exist in all 50
States and the District of Columbia with the specific goal of preventing
child maltreatment. CTFs coordinate prevention activities throughout their
State by promoting and funding a variety of community-based programs
including public awareness campaigns, home visitation programs,
skills-based curricula for children, and parent education and support
activities. In addition, many CTFs develop and distribute posters for
community groups, schools, and many other professionals working with
children. The poster may encourage parents to use positive discipline
techniques or encourage children to say "no" to touching that
makes them uncomfortable.
Parent Education Programs
Parent education programs focus on decreasing parental practices and
behaviors associated with child abuse and neglect, and typically target
teen parents and highly stressed parents as well as their children. These
programs address issues such as:
- Developing and practicing positive discipline techniques
- Learning age-appropriate child development skills and milestones
- Promoting positive play interaction between parents and children
- Locating and accessing community services and supports.
Parent education programs are designed and structured differently,
usually depending on the curriculum being used and the target audience.
Programs may be short-term, offering classes once a week for 6 to 12
weeks. Or programs may be more intensive, offering services more than once
a week and for up to a year. Popular parent education programs include
Parents as Teachers, Effective Parenting Information for Children (EPIC),
and the Nurturing Program.
In addition to parent education programs, parent support groups may also
strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment. Parents Anonymous
State affiliates work within their communities and States to provide
support and resources to overwhelmed families struggling to meet everyday
stresses and strains.
Skills-Based Curricula For Children
Many schools and local community social service organizations offer
skills-based curricula to teach children safety and protection skills.
Most of these programs focus efforts on preventing child sexual abuse and
teaching children to distinguish appropriate touching from inappropriate
touching. Many curricula have a parent education component to give parents
and other caregivers the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize and
discuss sexual abuse with their children. Curricula may use various
methods to teach children skills including:
- Workshops and school lessons
- Puppet shows and role-playing activities
- Films and videos
- Workbooks, storybooks, and comics.
Examples of skills-based curricula include programs such as Talk About
Touching, Safe Child, Reach, Recovery, Challenge, Good Touch/Bad Touch,
Kids on the Block, and Illusion Theater.
Home Visitation Programs
Home visitation programs that emphasize the health and well-being of
children and families have existed in this country since the late 19th
century. Rather than a specific activity, home visitation is a strategy
for service delivery. Organizations and agencies in fields as varied as
education, maternal and child health, and health and human services use
home visitation programs to accomplish their goals related to
strengthening families.
In 1991, the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect recommended
universal implementation of home visitation programs to reduce the
incidence of child maltreatment. Following this recommendation, an
increasing number of communities have turned towards home visitation
programs.
Home visitation programs offer a variety of family-focused services to
pregnant mothers and/or families with new babies. Activities encompass
structured visits in the family’s home, informal visits, and
telephone calls. Topics covered through these programs may include:
- Positive parenting practices and nonviolent discipline techniques
- Child development
- Availability and accessibility of social services
- Establishment of social supports and networks
- Advocacy for self (parent), child, and family
- Maternal and child health issues
- Prevention of accidental childhood injuries through the development
of safe home environments.
Many home visitation programs exist throughout the country. Large and
small organizations are establishing programs and providing
community-based services to a wide-ranging population. For example:
- Home Visitation 2000 provides services to first-time mothers in
Denver, Colorado. This program focuses efforts on improving maternal
health, environmental health (home safety), quality of caregiving for
infants and toddlers, maternal life course development (education and
employment), and social support.
- Hawaii’s Healthy Start is a statewide, multi-site program that
screens, identifies, and provides services to families at higher risk
for child abuse and neglect. Most participants are enrolled after the
birth of a child; however, approximately 10% of the participants are
enrolled during the prenatal period.
- Healthy Families America (HFA) is a national initiative launched by
the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (NCPCA) and Ronald
McDonald House Charities in 1992. Modeled after Hawaii’s Healthy
Start, HFA currently has home visitation programs in over 240
communities in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
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