Authors: Cooper, Merrill; Wells, Lana

Date: September-2014

This paper makes the case for strengthening child maltreatment prevention efforts as a critical component of the Government of Alberta’s Family Violence Prevention Framework and the Early Childhood Strategy. A timely paper given the recent mandate letter to Minister of Human Services, Heather Klimchuk, which has a strong focus on early childhood development and poverty. The paper demonstrates the link between child maltreatment and domestic violence; provides an overview of the scope and consequences of child maltreatment; articulates the risk factors for child maltreatment; provides a description of programs and interventions that may prevent child maltreatment; and outlines key policy, research, and program recommendations to strengthen child maltreatment prevention efforts specifically in the Alberta context.