1) The document summarizes research on the SafeCare parent training program, which teaches parenting, child health, and home safety skills to reduce child abuse and neglect. 2) SafeCare has been shown through research to reduce future incidents of child maltreatment, increase positive parenting, improve child healthcare, and enhance home safety compared to standard services. 3) In Oklahoma from 2001-2011, SafeCare reduced recidivism of child maltreatment by about 26% compared to standard services according to a 7-year follow up study.

1. Prevention Child Maltreatment:
SafeCare Parent Training Program
Jenelle R. Shanley, PhD
Georgia State University

2. 2011 Child Maltreatment Statistics
Types of Maltreatment
Neglect • 3.7 million reports
10.3 • 740,000 substantiated
8.1 cases
Physical Abuse
9.2 • Multiple types common
Sexual Abuse – Reason for >100%
17.6 • 32.4% under age 4 years
Psychological 80.7 • 81.2% parent perpetrator
Abuse • 1,545 children died from
Other/Unknown CM
Source: Administration on Children, Youth and Families,
Children’s Bureau (2011)

3. Negative Consequences of CM
Mental/Social Problems Disease/Injury Conditions
• PTSD • Ischemic heart disease
• Depression • Diabetes
• Anxiety • Stroke
• Eating disorders • Cancer
• Neurobiological • Suicide
• Academic achievement • Skeletal fractures
• Unwanted pregnancy • Chronic bronchitis/
• Obesity emphysema
• Revictimization • STDs (e.g., HIV)
• Hepatitis
Health Risk Behaviors
• Sexual promiscuity
• Sexual perpetration
• Alcohol abuse
• Illicit/injected drug use
• Smoking
• Behavior problems

4. Children Exposed to Maltreatment
• Maladjustment reactions not directly
associated with type of maltreatment or
the experience itself
• Adjustment more associated with types of
family dysfunction present before and
after the maltreatment experience

5. Family Environment of Children
Exposed to Maltreatment
• Poverty and other socioeconomic disadvantage
• Family disorganization
• Poor parent-child relationship/negative interactions
• Conflict within the marital relationship
• Maternal depression
• Partner violence
• Social isolation of families
• Parental abuse of alcohol and drugs

6. Etiology of Child Maltreatment
• Neglect
– Lack of knowledge, resources, abilities
– Target of intervention = parents & environment
• Physical abuse
– Coercive parent-child relationship
– Child behavior problems
– Child developmental disabilities
– Parents’ substance use, mental health difficulties
– Target of intervention = parents

7. Prevention & Intervention for CM
• Less is known about neglect and how to
prevent it
– Greater focus/knowledge on sexual and
physical abuse
– Neglect complex term

8. Prevention & Intervention for CM
• Neglect & Physical Abuse
– SafeCare
• Physical abuse
– Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
– Incredible Years
– Triple P (Positive Parenting Practices)
– Alternatives for Families: Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (AFCBT)

9. SafeCare Overview
• Teaches parents a broad range of skills
• Parenting
• Children’s health needs
• Home safety
• Targets multiple risk factors for abuse and neglect
• Positive parent-child/infant interactions
• Systematic health decision making
• Supervision
• Parent training in home setting
• Highly structured, but flexible in its delivery
• www.safecare.org

10. SafeCare’s Research Base
• Through research, SafeCare shown to:
• Reduce future incidents of child
maltreatment—neglect and physical abuse
• Increase positive parent-child interactions
• Improve how parents care for their children’s
health
• Enhance home safety and parent supervision

11. SafeCare Oklahoma, 2001-2011
• SafeCare vs. Service as
Usual
• Families followed for 7
years on average
• SafeCare reduced
recidivism by about 26%

12. SafeCare Curriculum Overview
Note: You learn all 4 modules; parents receive 3 modules
[Health, Safety and one parenting (PCI or PII)]

13. Acknowledgements
• Emory Center for Injury Control Faculty
• Project serving rural families to prevent child abuse
This project was supported in part by the Governor’s Office for
Children and Families through appropriations from the Georgia
General Assembly. Points of view or opinions stated in this
document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
represent the official position or policies of the Governor’s Office
for Children and Families or the State of Georgia.