NCJ Number
226867
Journal
Child Maltreatment Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2009 Pages: 182-206
Date Published
May 2009
Length
25 pages
Annotation
A review was conducted on the empirical evidence on whether early childhood primary prevention programs would reduce rates of child abuse and neglect.
Abstract
The review found limited evidence that early childhood interventions could prevent child maltreatment. Of the 12 intervention models investigated, only 4 or one-third reported that program participants had significantly lower rates of maltreatment than comparison groups. Only the Child-Parent Centers and the Nurse-Family Partnership assessed longer term preventive effects. Common elements of these effective programs included implementation by professional staff, relatively high dosage and intensity, and comprehensiveness of scope. The overall conclusion was that the evidence base for programs in early childhood to prevent child maltreatment remains relatively weak. This study synthesized research on the effects of maltreatment prevention programs from birth to age 5. Three major questions were addressed: (1) to what extent do early childhood interventions prevent child maltreatment; (2) what specific programs are effective in preventing child maltreatment; and (3) what are the characteristics of programs that are effective in reducing or preventing maltreatment? Forty-eight empirical studies were identified that assessed the effects of early interventions on risk or protective factors for child maltreatment or on child maltreatment outcomes. Of these 48, 15 studies of 14 prevention programs were included. Tables, appendix and references