Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more than three times more likely to experience abuse and neglect than children without these disabilities. We should see a prevention landscape filled with programs tailored to these children. Yet, as Dr. Melissa Bright from the Center for Violence Prevention Research tells us, few such programs exist, and even fewer have been researched for their effectiveness. Why does so little research exist on this uniquely vulnerable population? For child abuse professionals, how might we create or adapt prevention programs for these children? And how do we approach parents and caregivers who may have questions or concerns about prevention programming for their child? Take a listen.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (01:35)
• Unique vulnerabilities (04:35)
• Why so few prevention programs? (07:41)
• Focus groups (11:05)
• State-required prevention education (20:56)
• Advice for child abuse professionals (25:42)
• You’re not innovating if it doesn’t work (29:10)
• Public policy implications (37:37)
• For more information (40:06)

Links:

Melissa Bright, Ph.D., founder and executive director of the Center for Violence Prevention Research

“Parents’ and professionals perspectives on school-based maltreatment prevention education for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Csenge B. Bődi, Diana P. Ortega, LouAnne B. Hawkins, Tyler G. James, Melissa A. Bright, Child Abuse & Neglect, Vol. 145, 2023, 106428, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106428

Erin’s Law

Jenna’s Law

 For more information about National Children’s Alliance and the work of Children’s Advocacy Centers, visit our website at NationalChildrensAlliance.org. Or visit our podcast website at OneInTenPodcast.org. And join us on Facebook at One in Ten podcast.

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