The booklet has been made available to school systems across the state. For more information or copies, contact the TEAM for West Children. Child abuse can be fatal. Child abuse stymies a child's normal growth and development. Recent brain research shows that the development of the brain in the first three years of life is directly affected by the kind of care babies and toddlers receive.
Child abuse is costly for many social institutions.
Child abuse costs continue to multiply over time. Child abuse victims often repeat violent acts upon their children that they experienced when young. Treatment services, while critical, are often ineffective in permanently altering parental behaviors. Prevention programs targeted at parents before they become abusive or neglectful reduce the likelihood of future maltreatment. Prevention programs targeted at children can improve a child's awareness of how best to avoid child abuse and other unsafe practices.