Breaking the cycle of neglect: How the Passaic County Healthy Families/TANF Initiative for Parents program supports families to prevent child abuse and neglect

Background: The Healthy Families/TANF Initiative for Parents Home Visiting Program offers home-based services to expectant families and new parents, beginning prenatally or shortly after the birth of the child. Participants are screened to identify risk factors and stressors.

Objective: Identify 160 families annually and provide in-home services that consist of early intervention and family support services. The in-home services prevents child abuse and neglect of children less than three years of age by providing early risk identification and intervention services to families at risk.

Method: Families enrolled in the program are analyzed annually using our database system called PIMS. Analyzing our database, we found no substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect.

Result: Between 2004-2008, of the 389 families enrolled in the program there were no substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect during participation of the program. 100% of participating children complete basic immunization series by the age of two, as documented in client's records. Compared to families who reside in Passaic County, there were 126 referrals made and 18 substantiated cases. In Paterson, there were 1,478 referrals made and 331 substantiated cases in Paterson.

Conclusion: Families who are enrolled in the Healthy Families/TANF Initiative for Parents program had no substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect compared to families not enrolled in the program.

Implications: Further research could identify families not enrolled in the Healthy Families/TANF Initiative for Parents program and the risk factors for abuse and neglect.