12.1: Introduction and Learning Objectives

Chapter 12: Prevention of Future Child Maltreatment – Protecting Our Future Generations

This text has presented information about the various causes and impacts of child abuse and neglect. It is easy to become discouraged when learning about the maltreatment of children. Is there any hope for future generations? Is it possible to stop the maltreatment of our children, to break the cycle? This chapter will focus on what individuals, families, communities and the global society can do to help prevent these tragedies from occurring in the future.

Learning Objectives

By the completion of this chapter, students should be able to:

• Describe three or more affective strategies for preventing child abuse and neglect in a community.
• Describe three or more Developmental Assets, and give examples of that type of asset from two different age groups.

"Young residents capture the spirity of the year, celebrating Bracknell's first Community Games- by Mike Morrissey" by NCVO is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

What Can Communities Do?

This text has covered some pretty horrific things that happen to children. PLEASE DON'T DESPAIR! Many GOOD things are happening to help change the text of the future. Across communities, we are creating a new standard for the next generation.

For too long, negative events early in life have impacted the well-being of children and the adults they become. These ACEs cause a ripple effect of physical, mental, emotional and social problems. The GOOD news is that society can prevent many of these ACEs from ever occurring. Relationships and environments which provide positive childhood experiences give every child what they need to stay connected and healthy throughout life. This, too, will have a ripple effect! Each person can help in these efforts by supporting children and families in their neighborhood, community and anyone else with whom they come in contact. Offer a listening ear, take a walk with someone and listen, offer to provide a ride, take a busy or needy family a dinner, read to students at a local school, or many other ways to help provide support. (CDC: Prevent ACEs Now)

"CSK - Community Olympic Game" by NCVO is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

It is important to remember that ACEs impact different groups and individuals differently. Some groups may have fewer risk factors, while others have far more challenges. Each individual has a unique temperament, as well; what impacts one person negatively may not have the same effect on another person. It is also important to remember that positive experiences and relationships can help off-set negative experiences. Think of it as a teeter-totter… the positive experiences can help tip the teeter-totter to the side of the positive and outweigh the negative experiences. Likewise, negative factors can work to destabilize the positives in a child’s life. Like a teeter-totter, they work as a balance.

"Youth exhibition game featuring 9-12 year olds. Six community centres from all over Vancouver came out to play. This photo is of the youth team from Thunderbird Community Centre - youth attend Thunderbird Elementary School." by Vancouver 125 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are very invested in helping to prevent Child Abuse and Neglect. They state, "Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. As such, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are an important public health issue. Everyone can help prevent ACEs by using strategies to create safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children. Communities can: (cdc.gov)

• strengthen economic support for families,
• change social norms to support parents and positive parenting,
• provide quality education early in life,
• enhance parenting skills to promote healthy child development,
• encourage supportive family networks
• intervene to lessen harms and prevent future risk.