Unhealthy relationships and environments can lead to child abuse and neglect.

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The Centers for Disease Control cites several strategies to prevent child abuse:

• Early child home visitation

• Early education with family engagement

• Improving parenting skills and family relationship approaches

• Behavioral parent training programs

• Treatment to lessen the harms of abuse and neglect exposure

• Treatment to prevent problem behavior and later involvement in violence

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Healthy Families helps parents build a strong foundation for safe and secure relationships between parent and child. Studies have shown the positive outcomes of participating in Healthy Families, including reductions in child abuse and neglect. Among children whose parents participated in Healthy Families, fewer hospitalizations for child abuse, less emotional and physical abuse and neglect were reported. First time moms who enrolled in Healthy Families early in pregnancy were 49% less likely to experience an indicated Child Protective Services (CPS) report.