Summarizes new programs and initiatives operating around the United States to prevent child maltreatment as well as to disseminate that information to the professional community. The project complements a closely related effort to learn more about new developments in maltreatment prevention, which is being spearheaded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Child welfare workers, child advocates, and related professionals get information about: (1) the nature and scope of child maltreatment in this country; (2) factors influencing risks to children; (3) the consequences and costs of child maltreatment; (4) types of prevention programs and what is known about their effectiveness; (5) demonstrated or reported effective programs emphasizing family connections or family empowerment; (6) innovative programs, including those that employ acupuncture to improve retention in a parenting class, focus on fathers and children, provide nurseries for homeless families, or encourage parent support groups; (7) programs with noteworthy aspects in Arizona, California, and New Jersey, among other states; and (8) future directions, including efforts to expand existing knowledge about the effectiveness of prevention, integrate research into practice, and document emerging practices. Further research is necessary to more fully understand the performance and impact of prevention programs. CONTENTS 1 – Introduction 2 – Maltreatment Incidence, Impact, and Existing Models of Prevention 3 – Featured Programs from the First Emerging Practices Review Process 4 – Future Directions References Appendix A – Emerging Practices in Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention – Effective Programs and Innovative Programs: Nomination Procedures and Application Appendix B
