Chapter 14 – Preventing Child Maltreatment

Test Items

1. An advantage of home visitation programs is a. they are generally available to all parents. b. they specifically target (and decrease the likelihood of) child physical abuse and neglect. c. they often provide additional support and resources to at-risk parents. d. they are fairly easy to implement.

Answer: C

2. An advantage of public service announcements is a. they are available to a large target audience. b. they specifically target (and decrease the likelihood of) child physical abuse and neglect. a. they often provide additional support and resources to at-risk parents. c. they are fairly easy to implement.

Answer: A a. Child sexual abuse programs b. Group/center-based programs c. Public service announcements d. Home visitation programs

3. Which of the following prevention programs targets the potential victim of abuse, rather than the potential perpetrator?

Answer: A a. Child sexual abuse programs b. Primary prevention programs c. Public service announcements d. Home visitation programs

4. Which of the following prevention programs targets parents who are considered at-risk for child maltreatment?

Answer: D a. Child sexual abuse programs b. Group/center-based programs c. Public service announcements d. Home visitation programs

5. Which of the following prevention programs is universally available to the general public?

Answer: C a. Child sexual abuse programs b. Group/center-based programs c. Public service announcements d. Home visitation programs

6. Which of the following prevention programs provides parents with the opportunity to share their experiences with, and provide support to, other parents?

Answer: B a. The Detroit Family Project b. Where’s the baby? Look before you lock c. Don’t Shake the Baby d. The Period of PURPLE Crying

7. Which of the following programs focuses on the prevention of vehicle-related heatstroke fatalities in children?

Answer: B a. The Detroit Family Project b. Don’t Shake the Baby c. The Period of PURPLE Crying d. B and C

8. Which of the following programs focuses on the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome?

Answer: D a. Nurse-Family Partnership b. Family Connections Program c. Hawaii’s Healthy Start Program d. Healthy Families America

9. Which of the following prevention programs is generally considered the “goldstandard” for home visitation?

Answer: A a. Nurse-Family Partnership b. Family Connections Program c. Hawaii’s Healthy Start Program d. Healthy Families America

10. Which of the following programs specifically targets the prevention of child neglect?

Answer: B

11. A family’s participation in a primary prevention program is usually a. mandated by a child protection agency. b. required only if the family possesses at least 2 risk factors for child maltreatment. c. required only in sexual abuse cases. d. completely voluntary.

Answer: D a. Primary b. Secondary c. Tertiary d. None of the above

12. For all practical purposes, this method of prevention is really a form of intervention.

Answer: C a. Epidemiological b. Empirical c. Intrafamilial d. Extrafamilial

13. Given the interpretation of child maltreatment as a public health issue, this type of terminology is often used describe prevention efforts.

Answer: A

14. The reduction in the likelihood of an occurrence is called a. precursor. b. prevention. c. attrition d. recidivism.

Answer: B a. Primary b. Secondary c. Tertiary d. None of the above

15. This method of prevention targets the general population to reduce the incidence of all new cases of a problem.

Answer: A a. Primary b. Secondary c. Tertiary d. None of the above

16. This method of prevention targets a specific group of individuals to reduce the incidence of new cases of a problem among those determined to be at some identified risk.

Answer: B a. Primary b. Secondary c. Tertiary d. None of the above

17. This method of prevention is intended to minimize the negative effects of an already existing problem.

Answer: C a. Prevention b. Etiology c. Epidemiology d. Disease model

18. This term borrowed from medical science to refer to maladaptive behavior patterns as lifelong illnesses.

Answer: D a. Reports to child protection agencies b. Risk factors for child maltreatment c. The use of physical discipline d. All of the above

19. Which of the following is considered a proxy measure for the true prevalence of child maltreatment?

Answer: D

20. The research on child sexual abuse prevention programs generally shows that concerns regarding the suitability of these programs for children a. are warranted, given the many negative side effects that result from program participation. b. are warranted, given that these programs tend to have few (if any) positive effects. c. are unwarranted, given the few negative side effects that result from program participation. d. vary depending on whether the program includes parental involvement.

Answer: C

True/False

1. A family’s participation in a primary prevention program is usually mandated by a child protection agency.

Answer: False

2. The majority of prevention programs for physical abuse and neglect focus on service delivery to parents.

Answer: True

3. Sexual abuse prevention programs typically focus on helping children protect themselves from becoming victims.

Answer: True

4. The Period of Purple Crying targets the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Answer: True

5. Primary prevention programs target those at risk of maltreatment.

Answer: False

6. It is easier to get a guilty verdict in civil court than in criminal court.

Answer: True

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the difference between primary and secondary prevention? In your answer, be sure to provide a specific example of each.

Answer: Primary prevention targets the general population to reduce the incidence of all new cases of a problem. An example includes public service announcements. Whereas, secondary prevention targets a specific group of individuals to reduce the incidence of new cases of a problems among those determined to be at some identified risk. An example includes a home visitation program.

2. Research on the effectiveness of prevention programs for child maltreatment often measures proxy variables. What does this mean and why do we take this approach? In your answer, be sure to provide a specific example of one such proxy variable.

Answer: Proxy variables are variables that are used instead of the actual variable of interest because it cannot be measured or is difficult to measure. We take this approach in studying the effectiveness of child maltreatment prevention programs because, typically, our variable of interest is the prevalence of child abuse and/or neglect. This prevalence rate is difficult, if not impossible, to determine. Instead, we measure variables that are related to this variable of interest. For example, we might measure the use of physical discipline, which is a risk factor for physical abuse and, therefore, a proxy measure for child maltreatment.

3. Describe and provide 2 advantages/benefits for public service announcements as a type of child abuse prevention program.

Answer: Public service announcements are media campaigns, and are a form of primary prevention. They include television and radio programming commercials, billboards, advertisements in newspapers and magazines, internet websites, and pamphlets or brochures. The advantages of public service announcements are that they can reach a large target audience and they can be influential in educating the general public about a problem for which there has previously been limited awareness.

4. Describe and provide 2 advantages/benefits for home visitation programs as a type of child abuse prevention program.

Answer: Home visitation programs are a comprehensive form of secondary prevention in which professionals (typically nurses) or paraprofessionals (people who have received some specialized training but are not professionally licensed) go to the homes of those identified at-risk for child maltreatment and provide a variety of educational, case management, therapeutic, and referral services. The advantages of these programs are that often provide much needed services to those who likely do not have the resources to otherwise obtain these services. They are also more specific in their focus than primary prevention programs and, therefore, can provide services to those who are most likely to benefit from their use.

5. Name and describe the three categories of prevention programs. From what field of study has this categorization system been borrowed? Provide one example in which applying this terminology to the prevention of child maltreatment has proven challenging and/or confusing.

Answer: The three categories of prevention programs are primary, secondary, and tertiary. This categorization system had been borrowed from the field of public health and, therefore, utilizes epidemiological terminology. Applying this terminology to the prevention of child maltreatment has proven confusing with respect to tertiary prevention, which is often considered synonymous with intervention.

6. Most child maltreatment prevention programs focus on potential perpetrators (i.e., adults) as the target audience; however, most sexual abuse prevention programs target the potential victims (i.e., children). What is the rationale for targeting the potential victims, instead of the potential perpetrators, for these programs?

Answer: The rationale for targeting the potential victims (i.e., children) in sexual abuse prevention programs is that we can limit the occurrence (and/or minimize the effects) of sexual abuse by educating children regarding specific sexual abuse-related information (e.g., “stranger danger,” “good touch/bad touch,” etc.), providing them with techniques for protecting themselves from perpetrators (e.g., role plays), and providing them with opportunities to disclose past or current abuse to an adult. Since it is difficult to predict potential perpetrators (and difficult to effectively prevent their likelihood for perpetration), targeting potential victims has become the more standard operating procedure.

Additional Case Studies

1. The Centers for Disease Control. This organization provides information regarding basic child maltreatment facts and prevention efforts currently supported by the CDC.

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childmaltreatment/ https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/ https://preventchildabuse.org/ http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/ https://www.ccfhnc.org/programs/family-connects-durham/ http://www.darkness2light.org/ https://www.triplep.net/glo-en/home/ http://www.purplecrying.info/ http://www.thecapcenter.org/

2. Child Welfare Information Gateway A resource made available through the Administration for Children and Families (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/) that provides information on the prevention of child maltreatment. Included is information regarding strengthening families, public awareness, program overviews, and evidence-based practice.

3. Prevent Child Abuse America. A national organization that builds awareness and provides education to all those involved in preventing the maltreatment of children. Includes information regarding Healthy Families America.

4. Nurse-Family Partnership. A nationwide nurse home visitation program aimed at improving the health and well-being of first-time mothers and their young children.

5. Durham Connects. A prevention program in Durham County, North Carolina that is available to all new parents residing (and giving birth) in that county. Services include a postnatal home visit with a registered nurse for all families.

6. Darkness to Light. This organization aims to educate adults about the steps they can take to prevent child sexual abuse.

7. Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. An online program that aims to provide evidence-based parenting strategies to all parents.

8. Period of PURPLE Crying. A program to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

9. The Child Abuse Prevention Center – a California-based organization.

Video Suggestions

1. Several YouTube videos depicting public service announcements for the primary prevention of child maltreatment, many more are available.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFzxOX_bRFk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sFRt-dotN0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3d1Dw6uV4s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UegahvDz3nM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpZIkUJ43-M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjttbdfq50w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gz8l02pwTU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0SXJQ0a-QY

2. Durham Connects. This website includes a video clip describing a free prevention program in Durham County, North Carolina that is available to all new parents residing (and giving birth) in that county.

3. Period of PURPLE Crying. These YouTube videos include information about the Period of Purple Crying, a program to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

4. Fundación ANAR – A Spanish organization (Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk www.anar.org) created a bus-stop advertisement that features the organization’s hotline number for children to report child abuse. The