National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month
E-Newsletter
April 4, 2018
What is National Child Abuse Prevention Month?
National Child Abuse Prevention Month started in 1983 through a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan. It recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families. During the month of April and throughout the year, communities are encouraged to increase awareness and provide education and support to families through resources and strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect. Each year, the White House and many states issue proclamations to raise awareness and to encourage communities to take steps to improve the well-being of children. To learn more about significant moments in child abuse prevention, browse the NCAPM timeline .
What is Child Abuse and Neglect?
While Federal legislation sets minimum standards for States that accept Federal funding, each State is responsible for defining child maltreatment in State law. Definitions of child abuse and neglect are typically located in two places within each State's statutory code:
  • Civil statutes provide definitions of child maltreatment to guide individuals who are mandated to identify and report suspected child abuse and determine the grounds for intervention by State child protection agencies and civil courts. Locate definitions for your State by conducting a State Statutes Search on the Information Gateway website.
  • Criminal statutes define those forms of child maltreatment that can subject an offender to arrest and prosecution in criminal courts.

Many States, including New Jersey , recognize four major types of maltreatment in their definitions, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse or neglect.
Pediatricians + School Nurses = Powerful Partners
by Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN
Pediatricians and school nurses are powerful partners when they intentionally collaborate to improve the continuity of care in the populations they serve. It is the intentionality of their relationship building that can bear the most fruitful outcomes to improve the health and well-being of their most vulnerable population, children. Camden City School Nurse Robin Cogan, MEd, RN, NCSN addresses this in her opinion piece Pediatricians + School Nurses = Powerful Partners and describes why the two groups are far more effective working in concert than in their own silos.
Webinar: Explore NPPC’s New ACEs Screening Resources Website
Join the National Pediatric Practice Community on ACEs (NPPC) on Wednesday, April 25 at 12:00 PM PST for a Q&A session and a “sneak peek” of its new member website, which provides a wide range of resources to help pediatric practices make the case and implement screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). NPPC is an initiative of the Center for Youth Wellness.
Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Training Programs
A free 1.5 hour program focusing on recognition and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect and provides guidance on linking families to community resources. Our primary goal is to increase recognition of child abuse and neglect among patients in health care settings as well as encouraging appropriate provider reports to the DCP&P hotline, foster linkages to community-based supports and services and when necessary lead to referrals to the Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (RDTCs) through DCP&P when appropriate. 1.5 CME and CNE credits are provided.
Strengthening Pediatric Partners: Adverse Childhood Experiences (SPPACES)
This Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 4 American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)- approved quality improvement program is designed to educate pediatricians on best practices for reducing the risk factors for child abuse and neglect across the pediatric age span through the use of evidence-based screening tools, caregiver and patient education materials and skill building resources, anticipatory guidance and linkages to community-based, family strengthening resources. This 6 month long project provides a wealth of knowledge on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) as well as 25 MOC points. 
The Safety and Trauma Informed Care Team
Aldina Hovde , MSW Program Director
Kyle Shupp , MPH, Program Manager
Lauren Kullmann , Administrative Assistant
609.842.0014