Policy strategies for the prevention of multiple forms of violence against children and youth

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Abstract Violence against children and youth, including child maltreatment and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), is common in communities across the United States. The consequences of violence against children are profound and often long-lasting. Studies have found that children who experience violence are at increased risk for negative outcomes across the life course, including problems with mental health, delinquency/crime, physical health, and future economic opportunity. These consequences are costly to society, with some estimates suggesting that victims of violence incur lifetime costs of nearly $2 trillion over their life course in treating the consequences. A public health approach to the primary prevention child maltreatment and IPV prioritizes strategies that can have the greatest population-level impact (i.e., universal) by addressing the conditions in which families and children live (i.e., through policy), particularly during high risk periods for violence within families (i.e., infancy, childhood). In response to RFA-CE-20-003, we propose to conduct effectiveness research to determine which community-level or societal-level strategies effectively prevent multiple forms of violence and other ACEs that impact children and youth. Specifically, we propose to build the scientific evidence on the effects of paid family leave (Aim 1) and early child care provisions (i.e., child care subsidies, preschool) (Aim 2) on rates of child maltreatment and IPV. Using the Family Stress Model and the World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health Framework, we hypothesize that states with paid family leave will have lower rates of child maltreatment and IPV, as will those with more generous early child care policies. Further, we hypothesize that the effects of paid family leave and early child care policies will have a more pronounced effect for certain populations (e.g., children of color) and that the effects of these policies on violence outcomes will operate through factors such as poverty and unemployment. Results of these analyses will provide further evidence for addressing societal factors as a strategy in the primary prevention of violence outcomes. Specifically, it will provide policy makers and other stakeholders with scientific evidence regarding the effects of paid family leave and early child care policies on the primary prevention of violence.