Developed by the

Center for the Study of Social Policy

Funded by the
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
In the beginning, we were seeking a
strategic, feasible approach to child
abuse prevention that was:

• systematic,
• national,
• reached large numbers of
very young children, and
• would have impact long before abuse or
neglect occurred

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Our hypothesis was that early care
and education programs could be
central because they offer:
• Daily contact with parents
and children
• Uniquely intimate relationship
with families
• A universal approach of positive
encouragement and education for families
• An early warning and response system at
the first sign of trouble 3
 The CSSP Process

Step 1: Search the evidence to find out what

factors really reduce child abuse and neglect

Step 2: Explore the connection between

factors that prevent child abuse and neglect
and what quality early childhood programs do
to build them

Step 3: Identify programs that build the

factors and learn how they do it

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Protective Factors
1. Parental Resilience
2. Social Connections
3. Knowledge of Parenting
and Child Development
4. Concrete Support in Times
of Need
5. Social and Emotional
Competence of Children
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 Consultation Process
• CBFRS •NAEYC
• Child Trends •NCCAN
• CWLA •NACCRRA
• •Natl. Child Care Assn
Family Support
America •Prevent Child Abuse
America
• Free to Grow
•USA Child Care
• Natl.Alliance of
•Zero to Three
Children’s Trust
Funds
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 Data Collection Process

Expert Program Info

Site Visit
Nomination Collection
•Advisory Committee •Survey •Director Interview
•Head Start Collaboration •Program summaries •Key Informant Interviews
•Early Childhood Specialist •Brochures •Parent Focus Group
•Child Care Administrator •Calendars •Staff Focus Groups
•Children’s Trust Fund lead •Evaluations •Program Observation
•CBFRS lead •Replication
•Other key informants

Searchable
Database

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Nominations Process
• 100 programs were nominated
• 10 were self-nominated
• 25 were selected for site visits
• Both nominated programs and selected
programs reflected diversity in: region of
country, program model & auspices, budget
size, and target population.

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 The Bottom Line
Using early childhood education to prevent
child abuse is:
• A bold and promising departure from
conventional prevention strategies
• Supported by both early childhood professionals
and child abuse prevention advocates
• More than a collection of good program
components. Success hinges on the quality of
relationships

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 Parents Say:

“I got referred “I don’t know how

to the program staff does it, but you
because I whacked
my child. Before
know you can go to
I used to beat them with any issue
her up like there and they’ll be
was no tomorrow
but now I don't.”
professional and it
will stay with them”

“I find strength from the unconditional support and

non-threatening environment here.”

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 “I didn’t realize how hard being a
mom was. Pat [the home visitor] was
like a breath of fresh air—she gave
me ideas for crafts and things that I
could do with my baby. When I talk
to mom’s in other county’s who don’t
have this support I realize how
“This is the place where I feel the most safe, the
lucky
mostwe are.” and the most welcome.”
comfortable

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Early care and education
programs can serve several
critical roles for young parents: 

• as a primary source of information and

support for young families ]
• as a gateway to outside services or
supports such as health or mental health
services, transportation, and even education,
housing and jobs. 
• as the key early warning system.
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 CAN
Prevention

Protective
Factors

Early Childhood
Programs
•Strategies
•Program Elements

Early Childhood Infrastructure

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 Program Strategies
• Value & support parents
• Facilitate friendships & mutual support
• Strengthen parenting
• Facilitate children’s social & emotional
development
• Link families to services & opportunities
• Respond to family crises
• Observe & respond to early warning signs
of child abuse or neglect

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 Program Elements
• Staff leadership and support
• Family support workers
• Curricula for social emotional development
• Mental health consultation
• Outreach to men
• Use of physical space
• Connections with child welfare system

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 Staffing
• Leadership that shares power
– Clear parent leadership roles
– Flexibility in staff roles
– Decentralized management
– Shared sense of mission
• Focus on Capacity Building
– Internal training and mentoring
– Local hiring
• Team based Approach
– Team staffing
– Regular meetings
– Structured communication

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Key Program Elements
• Family Support Strategies
– Family Support Workers
– Parenting Supports
– Home Visiting
• Social Emotional Strategies
– Conflict resolution curricula
– Arts programs
– Diversity affirmation
• Mental Health Strategies

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Key Program Elements
• Use of Space
– Observation Areas
– Dedicated Parent Space
• Outreach to Men
• Strong relationship with
child protection agency
• Relationships outside the
program
– Additional services
– Networks
– Collaboratives
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“This has really helped me—my child is really hyper and they’ve taught
me a lot of patience and how to handle it.”

“My sense that I have “It really

other people I can motivates the
depend on here is child to bring out
the best in the
great. That’s huge.”
“I’m learning new ways to set parent”
boundaries—it makes me go back
home and behave differently with
her (my daughter) to reinforce what
they’re teaching.”
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“I used to be
argumentative
and my
grandbaby’s
really calmed
me down—its
what she learns
in the classroom
that has made
the difference.”

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 CAN
Prevention

Protective
Factors

Early Childhood
Programs
•Strategies
•Program Elements

Early Childhood Infrastructure

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Early Childhood Infrastructure

1. Quality Programs
2. Child-based, results-driven system
3. Parent, Family, Community & Public Engagement
4. Individual Licensing
5. Improved Professional Development
6. Program Licensing
7. Funding & Financing
8. Governance, Planning & Program Accountability

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 Next Steps
• Mount a national effort to embed family
strengthening strategies in early childhood
education programs
• Find more exemplary programs
• Invest in helping other programs learn how to
implement these strategies
• Build effective linkages with child welfare
agencies and child abuse prevention advocates
• Strengthen the early childhood system and
infrastructure

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 How You Can Help
• Assess your program for ways to improve
outreach to families.
• Plan and implement changes.
• Link with child abuse prevention advocates
and programs in your community.
• Support changes in early childhood that will
make it easier for professionals to work
effectively with families.
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