Implementing Child Maltreatment Prevention Programmes: What the experts say

Child maltreatment can result in mental and physical harm to the child as well as long-term negative consequences for the individual across their life-course. Delivering measurable reductions in child maltreatment requires action at political, practitioner and public levels. Internationally, some groups and individuals have successfully pioneered programmes to prevent child maltreatment, or been instrumental in changing strategy or policy to protect the rights of the child. Although many of these successes are captured in academic papers, these can omit key learning points on how to establish and sustain successful interventions.

Based on a series of interviews reflecting on the experiences of world-leading experts in child maltreatment prevention, this handbook, produced by the World Health Organization, aims to fill this gap by providing practical information to policy-makers, commissioners and practitioners on implementing prevention programmes. After outlining the wider political and cultural landscape needed to drive and sustain interventions, the handbook describes key principles for selecting and delivering programmes, and important practical considerations, resources and technical support. Expert contributors provide insights into important first steps, key questions to consider, and how to address some common challenges and barriers to successful implementation. This handbook is intended for use alongside other resources developed by WHO Regional Office for Europe and has been developed to assist countries to implement Investing in children: the European child maltreatment prevention action plan.