Prevention Programs and Strategies: State Legislative Experiences

January 2011

This report was prepared by Kelly Crane, NCSL Children and Families Program for Prevent Child Abuse America. 

Approximately 772,000 children were victims of maltreatment in the United States in 2008, with child abuse and neglect costing the United States an estimated $103 billion each year in treatment and services to families.  Effective state-level services and supports for children and their families can assist in reducing the human and financial cost of child maltreatment. 

State lawmakers play a critical role in state child welfare systems by leading efforts to seek new policies and strategies for families and children affected by abuse and neglect, including the development of prevention programs.  It is work that is especially important in tight budget times for states.

What follows is an overview of strategies drawn from the innovative policy work undertaken by state lawmakers across the country that legislators can use to support prevention efforts.  A review of recent state legislation reveals a number of approaches that have been implemented by states, including:

• Home visitation
• Safe Haven laws intended to prevent unsafe abandonment of newborns
• Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention programs
• Creation of prevention focused task forces and councils

To read more, click here.