National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Supporting Families Early

marketing intern on April 1, 2026

Child Abuse Prevention Month Highlights the Critical Need to Support Families Early—Before Harm Occurs 

As the nation observes Child Abuse Prevention Month, Family Connects International is calling attention to a sobering reality: the earliest months of a child’s life are also the most dangerous—and the most preventable—when families lack timely support. 

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for the Administration for Children & Families, in 2023: 

  • 3.1 million children were subject to a Child Protective Services (CPS) response. 
  • 546,159 children were determined to be victims of maltreatment, 70% of which were first-time victims. 
  • Infants under one year of age—the “fourth trimester”—experienced the highest rates of victimization. 
  • Of the 1,968 child fatalities reported by states, infants under one were more than three times as likely to die as the next highest age group (one-year-olds). 

These data make clear that child abuse prevention must begin early—before harm occurs, and before families reach crisis. 

“Child maltreatment is not inevitable,” said Jade Woodard, Executive Director of Family Connects. “It is often the result of unmet needs during an incredibly vulnerable period for families. Prevention works when we show up early, universally, and with trust.” 

And yet the Fourth Trimester offers a window for Prevention. 

 

The weeks following birth are a time of immense transition. Families are navigating recovery, sleep deprivation, feeding, mental health challenges, and social isolation—all while caring for a newborn. A decade of research into the Family Connects Model, however, shows: 

  • 39% decrease in total per-child CPS investigations for suspected maltreatment 
  • 33% decrease in mean total per-child emergency medical care use in early childhood 
  • Reduced disparities across racial groups in multiple health outcomes 
  • Sustained improvements in positive parenting behaviors through the first two years of life 
  • And that mothers were 30% less likely to experience possible postpartum depression or anxiety 

“Prevention is not passive—it is active, relational, and evidence-based,” said Woodard. “Family Connects helps families address challenges before they become emergencies.” 

This April, Family Connects urges policymakers, health systems, funders, and community leaders to invest in primary prevention strategies that support families universally—before maltreatment occurs. 

“If we want to prevent child abuse, we must support parents when they need it most,” said Woodard. “The data are clear: early, universal, nurse-led support saves lives.”