Child Abuse Prevention

"Child Abuse Prevention

April is National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. Children and families thrive when they have access to safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. Learn how to prevent child abuse and neglect before it begins with CDC’s resources!

Facts about Child Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse and neglect are significant public health problems in the United States:

• In 2017, an estimated 1,720 children died from abuse and neglect.
• About 674,000 children were identified as victims of child abuse or neglect by child protective service agencies in 2017.
• An estimated one in four children have experienced abuse or neglect at some point in their lives.

Child Abuse and Neglect Are Preventable

Children’s lives are shaped by their experiences, including what happens in their environment and the types of relationships they have with parents, teachers, and other caregivers. Children who experience abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are also at increased risk for negative health consequences and certain chronic diseases as adults. Safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments are essential to preventing child abuse and neglect. Additionally, policies and programs that are supportive of children and families can help prevent such abuse and neglect.

Resources for Prevention

CDC works to prevent child abuse and neglect before it begins.

• CDC’s technical package, Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities Cdc-pdf[3.9 MB] can help states and communities prevent child abuse and neglect. The technical package is a collection of strategies that represent the best available evidence and supports CDC’s Essentials for Childhood framework.
• The Essentials for Childhood Framework Cdc-pdf[5.5 MB] includes strategies to promote relationships and environments that can help create neighborhoods, communities, and a world in which every child can thrive.
• Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers is a free, online resource that is also available in Spanish. It provides a unique opportunity to receive evidence-based parenting information from a trustworthy source—CDC.

Visit CDC’s VetoViolence website for free violence prevention trainings, tools, and resources.."
Child Abuse