The focus and intent of Child Abuse Prevention programs and activities is to ensure that children have a safe and nurturing environment in which to grow and develop to their optimal potential. Injury and violence prevention and family education and support are fundamental components of the public health spectrum. The Department of Health’s mission statement clearly identifies the “safety” of the people for Florida as a priority. Nationally, the Healthy People 2010 initiative identified Injury and Violence Prevention as one of the 28 Objectives to be addressed as public health issues. The prevention of the adverse consequences of abuse is a fundamental public health concern. Recent studies emphasize the long-term health consequences of child abuse.

• Child Abuse: A Public Health Concern

To provide an effective public health strategy to prevent child abuse and the consequential family disruption, a consolidated approach is required. The Healthy People 2010 initiative supports a consolidated approach. Injury and violence (abuse) prevention is a combined goal to “reduce injuries, disabilities, and deaths due to unintentional injuries and violence.” The 2010 information provides a compelling argument for consolidation of prevention efforts by stating that a public health response to progress in this area is impeded by “lack of comparable data sources, lack of standardized definitions…, lack of resources to establish adequately consistent tracking systems and lack of resources to fund promising prevention programs.”

The Department of Health is in a positive position to address and promote Child Abuse Prevention activities throughout the state in a non-threatening manner and without potential negative connotations. The Department is able to offer and incorporate child abuse prevention programs, services, and activities in conjunction with other health prevention efforts. DOH programs have contact opportunities with families and children at various life stages – including pregnancy programs, childhood immunizations, specialty children’s medical services, routine health check-ups, school health programs, etc. All of these interactions provide opportunities to provide child abuse prevention education in a non-threatening, non-stigmatizing manner.