This new clinical report highlights that current thinking about the prevention of child abuse begins with the knowledge that parents love their children.
– Robert Sege, MD, PhD, Director of HOPE National Resource Center
How pediatricians can support children’s well-being through effective maltreatment prevention
BOSTON, MA, August 21, 2024 – Robert Sege, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, and colleagues published their latest clinical report, “The Pediatrician’s Role in Preventing Child Maltreatment: Clinical Report,” in Pediatrics, the flagship journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The publication addresses important ways pediatricians can prevent child maltreatment by incorporating prevention strategies and tools in their practice.
In commenting on the report, Dr. Sege noted: “This new clinical report highlights that current thinking about the prevention of child abuse begins with the knowledge that parents love their children. Abuse prevention centers can help stressed parents with their concrete needs and personal struggles. HOPE-Informed practice sets the stage for the collaboration needed to support families and prevent abuse and neglect.”
The report defines two goals of child maltreatment prevention:
- Lessen risks by identifying and reducing stressors experienced at the family and community level.
- Increase resilience by building up children’s and families’ protective factors.
To help pediatricians work towards these goals, the authors provide actionable advice such as how to screen for risk and resilience (e.g. SEEK model, the HOPE framework), evaluate and intervene including referring to education and prevention programs (e.g. Healthy Families America, Head Start), explore tactics in preventing future child maltreatment, and recommend local community resources outside the medical setting.
About HOPE – Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences
Based at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, the HOPE National Resource Center sees a world that honors and promotes positive experiences as necessary for health and well-being. Research shows that positive childhood experiences (PCEs) drive healthy child development and lessen the lifelong effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). HOPE aims to inspire a movement that changes how people and organizations advance health and well-being for children, families, and communities.
Robert Sege, MD, PHD, FAAP, Director of the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine at Tufts Medical Center and Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine, leads the HOPE National Resource Center.
Inquiries: HOPE@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
