Search Form Controls

Injury Prevention & Control: Division of Violence Prevention

ShareShare

This website is part of

VetoViolence Logo
Hide Toolbar
CLOSE

ABOUT

We have created this site because state health departments can play a leading role in child maltreatment prevention through programs and services that enhance family resiliency and foster positive child development. With public health infrastructure existing in every state and territory within the United States, the public health system is well-positioned to create a prevention system for children and families. We hope the information provided in this site is helpful in supporting your efforts to promote the health and well-being of children.

This work was supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

In partnership with National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Division of Violence Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation

bckgd test
FRAMEWORK > COMMITMENT > 1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT
  • Commitmentplane
  • Resourcesplane
  • Collaborationsplane

STRATEGIES

 

1.1 ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

Commitment is crucial to making a difference. You need people throughout the health department, both staff and leadership, to acknowledge a shared vision of child maltreatment as a public health issue. Increasing commitment to, and understanding of, primary prevention for child maltreatment in key staff and leadership may help increase support of your programs and increase opportunities for partnerships – both across the health department and with external organizations.

Shared Understanding

An understanding in your health department that child maltreatment is a public health issue and promoting safe, stable, and nurturing environments and relationships for children can help to reduce child maltreatment should be supported by both staff and leadership. Think about programs and divisions--even key leadership--you may want to reach out to. It’s helpful to spend some time with them making sure everyone sees child maltreatment prevention in the same way.

This can be reflected in programmatic activities in order to reinforce this shared vision and purpose. You may want to:

  • Incorporate child maltreatment prevention into strategic plans and performance measures (e.g., injury and violence prevention strategic plans, maternal and child health state performance measures).
  • Participate in state-level child maltreatment prevention planning (e.g., Governor’s cabinet strategic planning, Prevent Child Abuse America state affiliate planning, Strengthening Families strategic planning).
  • Reach out and convene child maltreatment prevention stakeholders to jointly implement prevention efforts.
  • Ensure that a public health effort complements other child maltreatment prevention efforts in the state.

These and other activities help to establish commitment to child maltreatment within your health department, as well as help state leaders see you as a key player in statewide prevention efforts.

Consider

  • Do leadership and staff think of child maltreatment as a public health issue?
  • How familiar is your health department with promoting safe, stable, and nurturing environments and relationships for children as a child maltreatment prevention strategy?
  • What overarching philosophy -- life course perspective, Essentials for ChildhoodExternal Website Link, Strengthening FamiliesExternal Website Link  -- currently guides health department efforts? How can you leverage this to support child maltreatment prevention as a public health priority?
  • Are there opportunities for the health department to participate in state-level child maltreatment prevention efforts (advisory groups, committees, coalitions)?
  • Do you incorporate child maltreatment into health department strategic plans and performance measures (Injury and Violence Prevention Program strategic plan, Maternal and Child Health Block Grant performance measures)?

 

WORKSHEET

1.1 RESOURCES

NEXT1.2 Raise Awareness