In 2019, OVC launched Child Safety Forward, a 3-year demonstration initiative to develop multidisciplinary strategies and responses to address serious or near-death injuries as a result of child abuse/neglect, and to reduce the number of child fatalities.
Listen to a podcast hosted by the Collective Impact Forum about the Child Safety Forward site in Hartford, Connecticut, operated by the Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center. The Power of Parent Engagement podcast features Hartford project site representatives and parent advocates who share lessons learned.
The Hartford project site works with parents in the community to learn what they need to help improve child safety.
During focus groups, parents explained that they needed education and resources. Some indicated that they only learn about a topic after someone suspects they’ve done something wrong. In response, Child Safety Forward Hartford brought in print materials, speakers, and educators to proactively teach parenting skills to reduce the likelihood of child protective services intervention. As the parents learned about the topics, they shared with people in their communities. Peer efforts that are making a difference in Hartford and can be replicated elsewhere.
The Hartford site is one of five demonstration sites working to build a child and family wellbeing system where child protection agencies, community partners, families, and neighbors share a responsibility to ensure that children are safe and have an opportunity to thrive.
For more information about the Child Safety Forward initiative, visit the project’s website.