What are the most effective means of preventing child abuse and neglect?
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Nurturing and Attachment - helping parents and children develop strong, warm feelings for one another.
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Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development - training parents about basic child development and effective parenting techniques.
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Parental Resilience - helping parents learn to better handle everyday stresses and recover from occasional crises.
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Social Connections - helping parents develop trusted family and friends who can provide them with emotional support.
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Concrete Support - connecting families with social services and resources to help meet basic needs (housing, food, health care) and to deal with special problems (alcohol and drug treatment, counseling).
Source: Strengthening Families and Communities: 2009 Resource Guide. US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect. www.childwelfare.gov/preventing