Essentials for Childhood – Steps to Create Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Relationships

Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) are essential to prevent child maltreatment and to assure children reach their full potential. Essentials for Childhood proposes strategies communities can consider to promote the types of relationships and environments that help children grow up to be healthy and productive citizens so that they, in turn, can build stronger and safer families and communities for their children.

Essentials for Childhood is intended for anyone committed to the positive development of children and families, and specifically to the prevention of all forms of child abuse and neglect. While child maltreatment is a significant public health problem, it is also a preventable one. The steps suggested in Essentials for Childhood — along with your commitment to preventing child maltreatment—can help create neighborhoods, communities, and a world in which every child can thrive.

Public Health Leadership for Child Maltreatment Prevention Initiative

Essentials for Childhood is also a complimentary piece to the Public Health Leadership for Child Maltreatment Prevention Initiative (PHL) toolkit, developed to help state health departments promote and enhance child maltreatment prevention efforts. The toolkit and related resources, videos, and expert commentaries are available on VetoViolence.

We hope you find Essentials for Childhood and the PHL toolkit useful in your efforts promote the health and well-being of children, families, and communities.

Essentials for Childhood

• Download Essentials for Childhood [PDF 6.06MB]
• Download the Essentials for Childhood fact sheet [PDF 138KB]

Understanding Child Maltreatment

• Understanding Child Maltreatment Fact Sheet
  This fact sheet provides a basic overview of child maltreatment. It is intended for the general public.
  
• Child Maltreatment Facts at a Glance
  This fact sheet provides up-to-date data and statistics on child maltreatment.
  
• Better Start: Child Maltreatment Prevention as a Public Health Priority [PDF 703 KB]
• Learn More about CDC's Role in Child Maltreatment Prevention.
• Take the "I VetoViolence Pledge" to prevent child maltreatment.