Child Abuse Prevention Programs Need Greater Emphasis

• NCJ Number: 139463
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 83 pages
• Corporate Author: US Government Accountability Office
• Sale Source: Azimuth Inc.; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate.

Annotation

Based on a review of a variety of child abuse prevention programs, this U.S. General Accounting Office study discusses their effectiveness and describes funding and other obstacles to more widespread implementation of these kinds of programs.

Abstract

The study found that child abuse prevention programs have been shown to be effective, since evaluations indicate that some prevention strategies reduce the incidence of child abuse. Some studies indicate that prevention programs can also reduce the cost of long-term problems often associated with abuse, such as learning disabilities and chronic health conditions. Available information indicates the Federal funding for prevention, which is provided primarily by the Department of Health and Human Services, is relatively low, often in the form of short-term grants for demonstration projects. In contrast the Federal Government provides billions of dollars annually to States to provide foster care and other assistance for children who have been abused. Many of the programs visited in this study were struggling to survive, because they relied on multiple short-term funding sources. An independent advisory board established by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act recently reported that State plans for prevention are required to help ensure that resources are used effectively and efficiently; however, most States do not have such plans. This report recommends that Congress amend Title IV of the Social Security Act to give the Secretary of Health and Human Resources authority to reimburse States, at foster care matching rates, for the costs of implementing prevention programs. The report also recommends that the Secretary of Health and Human Resources provide funding incentives to encourage States to establish and evaluate programs with the potential for statewide implementation and promote statewide adoption of strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness and cost benefits. 5 figures and appended program descriptions