Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1989
2009
Safe and Healthy Children
2
DA Turning Point
A turning point in the child abuse prevention and implement prevention promote legislation for a protected source
prevention movement came in 1973 when strategies. CAPTA contained the first of funding for child abuse prevention at
the Senate Subcommittee on Children federal mandates for reporting suspected the state level. In partnership with the
and Youth held open hearings in support child abuse and neglect and encouraged Kansas Committee for the Prevention of
of a bill introduced by Senator Walter states to create child welfare agencies to Child Abuse (the state chapter of Prevent
Mondale of Minnesota. By all accounts receive and respond to reports. CAPTA Child Abuse America) and Debbie
the most riveting testimony came from a has been through numerous revisions Stabenow, formerly a state senator and
mother who shared her journey of violent and reauthorizations and today, child presently U.S. Senator from Michigan, the
outbursts with her child, unsuccessful welfare services remain the responsibility first Children’s Trust Fund was created
attempts to get help from a variety of of the states, with each state designing its in Kansas in 1980 followed next by the
agencies and ultimately her role as own system of compliance with federal Michigan Children’s Trust fund.
co-founder of Parents Anonymous®, requirements.
Inc., a national child abuse prevention Congress made a further commitment to
organization. Jolly K’s appearance was In 1974, Dr. Helfer began developing support innovative programs to prevent
reported on national television and is a questionnaire to predict who was at child abuse and neglect by resolving that
credited with putting a human face on risk for abusing a child. Ultimately the the week of June 6-12, 1982, should be
a national concern, helping the Senate questionnaire had to be abandoned designated as the first National Child
Subcommittee and the general public because it produced too many false Abuse Prevention Week. Congress
understand that child abuse and neglect positives to accurately predict potential requested that the President issue a
is a preventable issue. The legislation is abusers. The unpredictability of the proclamation asking Government agencies
believed to be the first to address child questionnaire results led Dr. Helfer to and the public to observe the week with
abuse and neglect on a national level and conclude that universal programs would be programs, ceremonies and activities. The
led to the creation of the Child Abuse needed to address child abuse and neglect. following year, April was proclaimed the
Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA). Prevention was a good approach for all first National Child Abuse Prevention
parents because at some point all parents Month. Since then, child abuse and
When the Child Abuse Prevention and need support. This awareness provided the neglect awareness activities have been
Treatment Act (CAPTA) was passed by foundation for the creation of Children’s promoted across the country during April
Congress in 1974, it became the first Trust Funds. of each year.
legislation to address child abuse as a
preventable issue, leading to a flurry of Dr. Helfer used his influence and his
activities to better define child abuse travels to speak across the country and
DExemplary Leadership
One of the greatest strengths of the
Alliance is its dedicated board of directors. The
exemplary leadership provided by the board
presidents has been a key factor in the growth
and development of the Alliance.
Mary Anne Snyder, Wisconsin 2006–2009
Deborah Strong, Michigan 2003–2006
Sherri Jo McLemore, Arkansas 2001–2003
Donna Pincavage, New Jersey 1998–2001
Judy Harrison, Louisiana 1996–1998
Janie Fields, Texas 1994–1996
Patty Wolfe Hasselbring, Missouri 1992–1994 Alliance Board Presidents
David Mills, Michigan 1990–1992
The Alliance has had eight presidents including (left to right) Mary Anne
Snyder of Wisconsin, Deborah Strong of Michigan, Sherri Jo McLemore of
Arkansas, Donna Pincavage of New Jersey and Judy Harrison of Louisiana.
3
DFocusing on Prevention
While there was a new and exciting In 1981, a group of national organizations The National Child Abuse Coalition has
energy focused on prevention, it was still formed the National Child Abuse taken the lead in working with Congress
a challenge to create a protected source of Coalition to coordinate their advocacy each time CAPTA has been reauthorized
funding focused on prevention before the in opposition to the new Reagan and amended, spearheading successful
occurrence of child abuse. States struggled Administration’s pledge to repeal the efforts to stop attempts to repeal or block
with the concept of setting aside funds Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment grant this important legislation. CAPTA
for something that hadn’t happened while Act (CAPTA). This initial collaborative funds have been and remain decidedly
there were families in crisis and child effort was successful. The Alliance has below the amount of funding required to
protection systems were overwhelmed with been and remains actively involved in the fully support family strengthening and
cases where children needed treatment and Coalition as a strong voice for prevention child abuse prevention strategies across the
immediate services. When state budgets and increased resources to support country. However, since 1981, these funds
were stretched and underfunded, decision- community-based, family strengthening have increased by almost 400 percent –
makers often saw prevention services as efforts. from $23 million to $113 million – largely
the most expendable strategy. due to the Coalition’s advocacy efforts.
DAlliance History
1912 1926 1965 1968
• Federal Children’s Bureau created. • National Association for the • Head Start founded. • Ray E. Helfer, M.D., writes the
Education of Young Children landmark book, “The Battered
DNational Milestones (NAEYC) founded. Child Syndrome,” which was co-
edited with Dr. C. Henry Kempe.
4
DEstablishing State Children’s Trust Funds
The Child Abuse Prevention Funds, paving the way for the creation of development of many CTFs and offering
Challenge Grants were a part of the CTFs in over 40 states by 1988. Children’s Trust Funds the opportunity
Comprehensive Crime Control Act of to network with other prevention
1984 and provided incentives for states to A pivotal player in the child abuse organizations by participating in PCAA’s
invest in prevention, recognizing the need prevention story and the Children’s annual conferences. In fact, it was at the
for dedicated funding to prevent child Trust Fund movement was the National PCAA conference in 1988 that the idea
abuse and neglect. Many states had already Committee to Prevent Child Abuse for a national organization to specifically
established CTFs as an important way to (NCPCA), now known as Prevent Child support Children’s Trust Funds was born.
ensure funds for prevention and many Abuse America (PCAA), as well as their
used the Challenge Grants to support state chapters. Donna J. Stone founded With the continued growth in the number
the work of CTFs. By 1984, Connecticut, NCPCA in 1972, establishing a strong of CTFs across the country, several CTF
Louisiana, Missouri, Wisconsin and national presence and advocacy voice Directors began to explore the advantages
Alabama had established Children’s Trust for child abuse prevention. PCAA was of creating a central organization to
instrumental in supporting the support the unique needs of these
diverse statewide prevention entities.
Collectively CTFs distribute more than
$100 million annually to thousands of
state and local programs. The varied
organizational structures of CTFs include
private non-profit organizations, and
quasi-governmental agencies, with others
being embedded in larger government
systems such as public health, child
welfare and education. Monies are raised
using a variety of funding mechanisms
including fees from birth certificates,
marriage licenses and income tax check-
offs. Many CFTs had also been designated
as the State Lead Agency for the Child
Abuse Challenge Grant Program which
Alliance President Mary Anne Snyder presents Dr. Richard was reauthorized in 1989 and transferred
Allan Aronson (above) with the Ray E. Helfer, M.D., Award to CAPTA. Grants to states, totaling $5
at the 2007 Annual Membership Meeting in San Diego. Dr. J. million required a focus on education for
Robert Beshear (above right) received the award in 2008 and professionals and the public as well as the
Dr. George Brown (below left) in 2009. development of community prevention
programs.
5
DThe Alliance Is Created
In 1989, the National Alliance of resources. The structure of the Alliance American Humane, Prevent Child Abuse
Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds (the is unique for a national organization. The America, Parents Anonymous®, Inc. and
Alliance) was created to provide extensive voluntary board of directors, comprised the Children’s Bureau, Office of Child
support to Children’s Trust Funds in all exclusively of CTF representatives, is active Abuse and Neglect at U.S. Department of
aspects of their work including providing in supporting all aspects of the Alliance’s Health and Human Services.
collective and individual training and work. A cadre of skilled consultants
technical assistance, peer consulting, located across the country carries out the The Alliance was annually holding a
access to key data and research and serving work of the Alliance in close collaboration membership meeting where CTFs could
as a national leader and voice on the with the board of directors, other national learn, network, share successes and
importance of strengthening families and organizations, the federal government, challenges and brag about what made
preventing child abuse and neglect. foundations and, of course, state Children’s their Children’s Trust Fund special. The
Trust and Prevention Funds. annual membership meeting was the
The Alliance is the only national birthplace of the Parade of States, a much
organization that provides direct support By the mid-1990s there was a Children’s beloved activity where members share
to Children’s Trust Funds. Its establishment Trust Fund in all 50 states, the District of a gift representative of their state while
as a membership organization was Columbia and Puerto Rico. The DC CTF giving an update on their activities and
intentional and the leadership of the was established in 1993 and Puerto Rico in accomplishments.
Alliance has always felt strongly that 1999. The Alliance had grown into a strong
the Alliance should focus strongly on national voice for prevention with an office With the untimely passing of Dr. Helfer in
creating opportunities for members to in Washington, DC and one on the campus 1992, the Alliance established the Annual
support each other and share expertise and of Michigan State University. As a national Ray E. Helfer, MD Award in collaboration
leader in the field, with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
the Alliance forged The award is presented to highlight the
partnerships with valuable contributions of a pediatrician to
other national local and national efforts to prevent child
organizations such abuse. CTFs submit nominations and
as the American each year it is exciting to see how many
Academy of pediatricians are following in Dr. Helfer’s
Pediatrics, footsteps.
6
DUniversal Approach Builds on Family Strengths
By the late 1990s it became clear that a began conducting substantial research family and outsiders have no role. Based
transition was needed from the historical for PCCA on how to reframe the issue on the findings, PCAA and Frameworks
silos and segmented way of working with of child abuse and neglect, supported by made recommendations about messaging,
families to a more universal approach that funding from the Doris Duke Charitable including using recent research in child
recognized and built on family strengths. Foundation (DDCF). PCAA’s goal was development to give messages about what
The Alliance was poised to work with to move beyond awareness and concern works. The research also suggests that
CTFs and with other organizations to by developing strategies to change the beginning communications with the term
advance this new strengths-based way of perception of child abuse and to begin child abuse causes the public to think
working. changing behavior. The premise of this about the stereotypes associated with child
work was based on the understanding abuse and is less likely to increase public
The prevention field was beginning to that it’s important to change how the will for prevention strategies. A more
recognize that messages regarding the story is told, taking into account the useful approach is to provide solutions and
importance of preventing child abuse values and frames of reference associated calls to action early in the messaging.
and neglect were having the unintended with the issue. In April 2004, PCAA
consequence of distancing the public hosted a Summit on Building Public The Alliance has enthusiastically taken
from the issue rather than building strong Will for Prevention in Washington, DC a leadership role in reframing its own
public will to resolve it. Efforts to generate to share their research findings with a work and assisting CTFs in reframing
awareness of child abuse and neglect were broader audience. Their findings included their thinking and messaging by moving
not having the desired effect of mobilizing information on the lack of understanding to a more strengths-based language that
strategies to end the problem. about childhood development and child reflects the new ways of thinking about
abuse and neglect as well as the public’s and supporting children and families.
The Frameworks Institute and its partners,
Cultural Logic and Public Knowledge, perception that parenting exists inside the
7
DGrowth and Partnerships
From the Doris Duke Charitable The five Protective Factors are: The Alliance was also experiencing
Foundation’s initial steps in funding child
abuse prevention strategies, beginning
Parental Resilience significant growth and strengthening
its partnerships with other national
in 2000, they have made significant and Social Connections organizations, resulting in increased
coordinated contributions to the field of Knowledge of Parenting and Child capacity to implement new strategies and
prevention by providing financial support Development have an even greater impact on state and
and guidance to several key initiatives.
In addition to the landmark work on
Concrete Support in Times of Need national efforts to strengthen families and
prevent child abuse and neglect.
reframing child abuse prevention, the Social and Emotional Competence
foundation funded the development and of Children In late 2004, the Alliance entered a
expansion of the Strengthening Families cooperative agreement with the Centers
The identification of these protective
Initiative, an approach created by the for Disease Control (CDC) to implement
factors and recognition that those
Center for the Study of Social Policy a new initiative - BECAUSE Kids Count:
working with families can help support
(CSSP). Creating a National Plan to Strengthen
development of protective factors
Families and Prevent Child Maltreatment.
sparked a change in the way practitioners
In 2001, CSSP began exploring the role The Alliance’s goal for the BECAUSE
approached their work with families
of early care and education centers in Project was to expand the capacity of the
and the way they addressed preventing
preventing child abuse and neglect. Early Alliance and its CTFs to help prevent
child abuse and neglect. CSSP identified
childhood settings had historically been child maltreatment before it occurs, to
21 exemplary early care and education
known to play a critical role in promoting conduct an inventory of local child abuse
programs across the country and
the social and emotional development of prevention programs and strategies
developed tools and resources to support
young children with additional evidence supported by the CTFs, assess the Alliance’s
more programs in implementing the
that programs that did intentional and the CTFS’ current strengths and needs
approach. They began exploring policy
outreach to parents contributed to family for assistance and develop and launch a
and practice changes that would be needed
strengthening and child abuse prevention. national plan to help prevent child abuse
for large scale implementation.
and neglect in all its forms. Through the
CSSP’s exploration included reviewing BECAUSE Kids Count Project, the Alliance
research on child abuse and neglect and strengthened its collaborations with the
conferring with researchers, practitioners two other national organizations that were
• Annual Ray E. Helfer, M.D., Award
and parents to identify protective factors established by the Alliance and the also grantees of CDC, Prevent Child Abuse
known to reduce child abuse and neglect. American Academy of Pediatrics. America and Parents Anonymous® Inc.
This process of data collection led CSSP • Dr. Robert ten Bensel, first Ray E.
to develop a conceptual framework Helfer, M.D., Award recipient.
that involved building evidence-based • Alliance Membership Meeting –
Chicago.
protective factors around young children. • Patty Wolfe Hasselbring elected
• Alliance Membership Meeting –
Atlanta.
President of the Alliance Board of
Directors. • Dr. David Chadwick, Ray E. Helfer,
M.D., Award recipient.
• Michigan CTF and Bob Caldwell,
Ph.D, professor from Michigan • Janie Fields (TX) elected president
• First official Alliance Membership State University, create one of the • Alliance Membership Meeting – of the Alliance Board of Directors.
Meeting – Chicago. first documents describing the Pittsburgh. • Alliance begins two-year grant
• David Mills elected president of • Alliance Membership Meeting – tangible costs of NOT providing • Dr. Bernard Cullen, Ray E. Helfer, with the federal Office of Child
the Alliance Board of Directors. Denver. prevention strategies. M.D., Award recipient. Abuse and Neglect (OCAN).
9
DBridging Across Systems
The Alliance became a stronger of seed grants were Arkansas, Georgia, funds are ideally positioned to bridge
partner in the Strengthening Families Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, New across systems to support the SF/PF
Initiative when it received a 3-year grant Hampshire, New Jersey and Washington. Framework as an enhancement to early
from DDCF in 2005 to launch its national The Alliance also created an Early childhood systems efforts. Many states
Early Childhood Initiative. The grant Childhood Initiative Learning Community participating in the Early Childhood
was awarded to build the capacity of the and invited participation from a total of 18 Initiative Learning Community began to
Alliance and individual CTFs to promote states, including those receiving funding. work with their early childhood partners
the Strengthening Families Protective The Early Childhood Initiative Learning to develop plans for Quality Rating and
Factors framework, developed by the Community now includes 26 state CTFs, Improvement Systems (QRIS). QRIS
Center for the Study of Social Policy, in their early childhood partners and parent are a way to improve and communicate
early care and learning settings. leaders. about the level of quality in early care
and education settings. With support
In May 2006, the Alliance awarded CTFs in the Early Childhood Initiative from the DDCF and the A.L. Mailman
seed grants to nine CTFs, through an Learning Community engaged in Foundation, the Alliance implemented
independent and competitive funding meaningful work with their early the Strengthening Families through QRIS
application process, to support innovative childhood partners to embed the Initiative. Through this Initiative, the
strategies that would help families build Strengthening Families/Protective Alliance is working intensively with three
protective factors, in partnership with the Factors framework throughout their state CTFs and their partners (Idaho,
early childhood leaders in their states.. early childhood systems (professional Pennsylvania and Tennessee) to offer
Those nine CTFs received grant awards development systems, higher education support and materials to any other state
of up to $50,000 each to implement systems, child welfare systems, child teams interested in using the state QRIS
their proposed projects and to serve as care licensing and quality rating and process to promote the Strengthening
mentors for other CTFs. The recipients improvement systems). Children’s trust Families Protective Factors framework.
11
State Children’s Trust and
Prevention Funds comprise
the nation’s largest funders
of community-based
family strengthening and
child abuse prevention
programs and other
strategies. Collectively, they
distribute more than $100
million annually to thousands of
state and local programs. They also build
capacity in local programs, facilitate broad collaborations with state partners
and help incubate new and promising practices.
The National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds is the only
national organization that provides support to all aspects of the work of state
CTFs. The Alliance represents CTFs in national policy and practice discussions
and joins in dynamic partnerships with CTFs, federal agencies, foundations,
state governments, other national organizations and parent leaders.
www.ctfalliance.org