What Do We Know About the Return on Investment in Preventing Child Maltreatment?

This Casey Family Programs research to practice brief provides analysis about the costs of child maltreatment and the financial benefit of prevention and early intervention services. The study identifies the costs for children who experience abuse or neglect, including the risk of involvement with the criminal justice system, developmental delays, substance abuse challenges, low academic achievement, delinquency, and teen pregnancy, as well as diminished wages and future productivity. It also offers brief summaries of child maltreatment prevention and intervention programs and return on investment for these programs with Title IV-E funds directed by the Family First Prevention Services Act.