Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention in School (and Community)

Abstract

    Child abuse is associated with poor school performance, absenteeism, aggressive behavior, and delinquency, in addition to emotional and behavioral problems.  Since 1970s, the US school has offered school-and/or community-based prevention education for children and parents.  However, the examination of abused children’s home environment reveals disproportionate representation of one parent families, fair/poor health, poverty, and being African-American.  This indicates that more comprehensive support and intervention are needed to save the child and family.  For the purpose, Ontario (Canada) government has planned and provided community-based ecological prevention project.  The project involved not only children and families, but other people living in the community.  They found marked positive effects in social and school functioning domains in Grades 6 and 9 and evidence of fewer emotional and behavioral problems in school.  Parents reported greater feelings of social support and general family functioning.  Positive neighborhood-level effects were also present such as participating in recreation and making new friends.  This prevention project teaches us many important lessons.