Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

Children are the embodiment of innocence and hope for the future. We all agree that every child deserves to grow up in a nurturing environment where they are loved, cared for, secure and protected from verbal, sexual, emotional and physical abuse, exploitation and neglect. Both child abuse and child neglect cause serious harm to child development and have lifelong effects that reduce well-being and productivity and create greater demands on society.

We all have a shared interest and a shared responsibility to promote the common good by putting an end to child abuse and neglect. The many effective child abuse prevention programs across Illinois succeed because of strong partnerships created among families, social service agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, government entities and the business community.

Just as immunizations shield children, families and communities from influenza and other disease, research shows that child abuse and neglect can be reduced by promoting Six Protective Factors that make sure every family is safe, secure and has the support needed to raise their children in a healthy environment:

• Promoting nurturing bonds between children, parents and caregivers.
• Ensuring effective, appropriate and researched-based child discipline.
• Strengthening parental resilience to stress.
• Developing emotional and social skills in children.
• Supporting parenting through social connections to friends and family.
• Connecting families to community resources.