Asked to investigate the roots of child abuse, a group of social engineers focused not on its causes but its prevention.

No one wants to be anywhere near the phrase “child abuse.” Parents flee from programs that would tar them as “high risk.” Teachers and child care providers fear the mistrust that comes with any hint they might call Child Protective Services. Those services don’t receive children until it’s too late to prevent abuse. And the public numbs to PSAs with warnings like, “Every 10 seconds, another child is abused in America …” (which is, unfortunately, about right).

“What they hear is, ‘It’s so bad, there’s nothing you can do about it, and we should just put those bad parents in jail,’” said Judy Langford, who directs the child abuse and neglect prevention program with the Center for the Study of Social Policy. “When you work with families, it’s so depressing when you look at everything in that way.”

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http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture/a-cure-for-child-abuse-25882/