In 1993 the National Research Council released its landmark report Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect (NRC, 1993). That report identified child maltreatment as a devastating social problem in American society. Nearly 20 years later, on January 30-31, 2012, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and NRC's Board on Children, Youth and Families help a workshop, Child Maltreatment Research, Policy, and Practice for the Next Generation, to review the accomplishments of the past two decades of research related to child maltreatment and the remaining gaps. "There have been many exciting research discoveries since the '93 report, but we also want people to be thinking about what is missing," said Anne Petersen, research professor at the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan and chair of the panel that produced the report.

Child Maltreatment Research, Policy, and Practice for the Next Decade: Workshop Summary covers the workshop that brought together many leading U.S. child maltreatment researchers for a day and a half of presentations and discussions. Presenters reviewed research accomplishments, identified gaps that remain in knowledge, and consider potential research priorities. Child Maltreatment Research, Policy, and Practice for the Next Decade: Workshop Summary also covers participant suggestions for future research priorities, policy actions, and practices that would enhance understanding of child maltreatment and efforts to reduce and respond to it. A background paper highlighting major research advances since the publication of the 1993 NRC report was prepared by an independent consultant to inform the workshop discussions.

This summary is an essential resource for any workshop attendees, policy makers, researchers, educators, healthcare providers, parents, and advocacy groups.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• PLANNING COMMITTEE ON CHILD MALTREATMENT RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
• Reviewers
• Acronyms
• 1. Introduction and Overview
  • RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE FOR THE NEXT DECADE
  • A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
  • ABOUT THIS SUMMARY
• 2. Reflections on the 1993 NRC Report Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect
  • EXPANSION OF RESEARCH
  • NATURE AND SCOPE OF CHILD MALTREATMENT
  • DEFINITIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
  • CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD MALTREATMENT
  • ETHICAL ISSUES
  • SCIENCE POLICY FOR CHILD MALTREATMENT RESEARCH
  • FROM ANALYSIS TO ACTION
• 3. Recognizing and Assessing Child Maltreatment
  • MEDICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
  • ASSESSMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PLANNING
• 4. Social Trends and Child Maltreatment Trends
  • SOCIAL TRENDS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING RATES OF CHILD MALTREATMENT
  • DATA SOURCES FOR UNDERSTANDING CHILD MALTREATMENT
  • CHANGES IN RATES OF REPORTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
  • CHILD MALTREATMENT REPORTING PRACTICES AND PATTERNS
• 5. Causes and Consequences of Child Maltreatment
  • INFLUENCE OF NEIGHBORHOOD ON CHILD MALTREATMENT BEHAVIORS AND REPORTS
  • NEUROBIOLOGY OF NEGLECT
  • NEUROBIOLOGY OF TRAUMA AND STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERSE EARLY EXPERIENCE
• 6. Preventing Child Maltreatment
  • UNIVERSAL PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS
  • SECONDARY PREVENTIVE INTERVENTIONS WITH HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS
  • PREVENTION OF RECURRENCES AND ADVERSE OUTCOMES
• 7. Design and Delivery of Services
  • PARENT-FOCUSED INTERVENTIONS
  • CHILD-FOCUSED INTERVENTIONS
  • FAMILIES DEALING WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS
  • IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
• 8. Systems-Level Issues
  • A CROSS-NATIONAL VIEW OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS
  • ALTERNATIVE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES APPROACHES
  • ROLE OF CLASS-ACTION SUITS IN BUILDING EVIDENCE-BASED CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS
  • LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES
• 9. Closing Remarks and Research Opportunities
  • CLOSING REMARKS
  • FUTURE RESEARCH AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES SUGGESTED BY INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS
• APPENDIXES
  • Appendix A References
  • Appendix B Workshop Agenda
  • Appendix C Registered Workshop Attendees
  • Appendix D Background Paper: Major Research Advances Since the Publication of the 1993 NRC Report Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect: Highlights from the Literature

Rapporteurs: Steve Olson and Clare Stroud.

This study was supported by Contract No. HHSP23320110010YC between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The views presented in this publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

Suggested citation:

IOM (Institute of Medicine) and NRC (National Research Council). 2012. Child maltreatment research, policy, and practice for the next decade: Workshop summary. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.