Overview
Children and families across the country have been served well by more than 50 years of federal engagement on and funding of efforts to prevent child maltreatment. This April, advocates hope not just for the annual declaration of Child Abuse Prevention Month but also the explicit protection of federal funding that supports vital, evidence-based programs.
April is an eclectic month across the U.S. For some, it is time to don gardening gloves and grab a spade and start planting flowers and veggies. Others see April as bringing the sniffles that accompany seasonal allergies. Regardless of which camp you fall into, you probably agree that preventing child abuse is an important governmental and community responsibility. Since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, take time to smell the flowers, or take an antihistamine, and consider how we can best protect children from the short and long-term harms inflicted by child abuse.
Late President Ronald Reagan was the first POTUS to designate April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month with his 1983 proclamation through which he acknowledged that action taken after abuse has occurred is too late—prevention must be the focus of legislators as well as educational, medical, mental health, law enforcement, and social service professionals. Most recently, former President Joe Biden noted the role of federal law in preventing child abuse. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 increased authorized resources to support children who have been exposed to domestic violence and the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2022 allows survivors to bring a civil lawsuit at any time.
Perhaps most importantly, through Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grants, Congress has consistently funded state child abuse prevention programs since passing the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in 1974. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 provided significant, temporary increases to CBCAP funding for state programs that address the structural issues that contribute to families becoming involved in the child welfare system.
In 2023, CBCAP funding exceeded $67 million (excluding the APRA increases), resulting is services to more than 322,000 families and implementation of prevention programming in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. CBCAP funded programs must be evidence-based and there is transparency in the use of funds due to required reporting on the use of funds. To support states in being good stewards of federal funding, resources are available for states to conduct cost analysis of their CBCAP-funded efforts.
The 2022 Annual State Summary of Exemplary Practices (most recent available) highlights dynamic state programs funded through CBCAP. For example, Alabama used funding to focus on the underserved population of incarcerated mothers with parent education and support programs, Aid to Inmate Mothers and the Alabama Prison Birth Project. Recognizing that social determinants of health impact child maltreatment, Arizona and Delaware use funding to connect families to safe, affordable housing. For more than 50 years, CBCAP funding through CAPTA has contributed to the decline in child abuse in the U.S.
On January 27, 2025, President Trump issued a memorandum requiring federal agencies to pause all grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs. This could have resulted in suspension or termination of existing CBCAP-funded programs in all states and territories. For tribal communities that administer their own child welfare and safety net programs with federal funding, suspension of child welfare funding would have immediate dire consequences. In response to quick legal challenge, the January 27 memorandum was rescinded. But the Trump Administration continues to take action to interfere with agencies’ use of funds appropriated by Congress for myriad purposes.
There is no indication that the Trump Administration is targeting child abuse prevention funding for cuts. Indeed, in 2020, President Trump touted his Administration’s efforts to prevent child abuse through an Executive Order, Strengthening the Child Welfare System for America’s Children. This followed his 2020 declaration of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Yet state and tribal governments remain cautious about potential cuts to CBCAP funds given the whirlwind of funding cuts that have hit multiple agencies and programs.
Children and families across the country have been served well by more than 50years of federal engagement on and funding of efforts to prevent child maltreatment. This April advocates hope not just for the annual declaration of Child Abuse Prevention Month but explicit protection of the impactful federal funding that supports vital, evidence-based programs.
This post was written by Kathleen Hoke, Director, Network for Public Health Law—Eastern Region. The Network promotes public health and health equity through non-partisan educational resources and technical assistance. These materials provided are provided solely for educational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. The Network’s provision of these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship with you or any other person and is subject to the Network’s Disclaimer.
Support for the Network is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The views expressed in this post do not represent the views of (and should not be attributed to) RWJF.
