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

> **NIH ALLCDC R01** · PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA · 2022 · $349,952

## Abstract

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.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10438176
- **Project number:** 5R01CE003178-03
- **Recipient organization:** PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffry Barton Klika
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $349,952
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10438176

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10438176, Policy strategies for the prevention of multiple forms of violence against children and youth (5R01CE003178-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10438176. Licensed CC0.

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