Child Maltreatment

Child maltreatment is associated with significant morbidity, and prevention is a public health priority. Given evidence of interpersonal and structural racism in child protective service assessment and response, equity must be prioritized for both acute interventions and preventive initiatives aimed at supporting children and their families. Clinicians who care for children are well-positioned to support families, and the patient-centered medical home, in collaboration with community-based services, has unique potential as a locus for maltreatment prevention services. Clinicians should advocate for policies that support families and decrease the risk of child maltreatment.