Child Maltreatment

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver (e.g., clergy, coach, teacher) that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.

Child maltreatment includes: Physical abuse; Sexual abuse; Psychological abuse; Physical neglect; Emotional neglect; Medical and dental neglect; Educational neglect; Inadequate supervision; and Exposure to violent environments.

Notable Facts

• From July 2014 to June 2015, there were 128,002 children with investigated reports of possible abuse and neglect in North Carolina. (https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/about-child-abuse/child-maltreatment-statistics)

Goal

• Increase protective factors and decrease risk factors that contribute to child maltreatment

Prevention Strategies

1. Enhance capacity to implement evidence-based, -informed, or promising programs to strengthen protective factors/prevent child maltreatment
2. Educate groups on adverse childhood experiences and relationships to negative health outcomes

Indicators of Progress

• Increase number of people trained on implementation of evidence-based strategies to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments
• Increase number of policies implemented that support safe, stable nurturing relationships and environments for children

Potential Implementing Agencies

• Early childhood education providers
• Child Fatality Task Force
• Essentials for Childhood stakeholders
• Faith communities
• Local health departments
• Local departments of social services
• NC Child
• NC Division of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Branch
• NC Division of Public Health, Women’s and Children’s Health Section
• NC Division of Social Services
• NC Pediatric Society
• NC Sexual Violence Prevention Team
• Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
• Redwood Foundation
• Schools
• UNC Injury Prevention Research Center
• YMCAs and recreation departments, centers, and programs