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Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention

The Oklahoma CBCAP seeks to empower communities to prevent child abuse and neglect through comprehensive support programs, public education and targeted resources for at-risk families. We aim to build a collaborative network that promotes family well-being, celebrates and includes all cultural perspectives, and ensures every child has the opportunity to thrive.

The Oklahoma CBCAP envisions a state where every child grows up in a safe, loving, and supportive environment, with communities working together to prevent abuse and neglect and strengthen families.

Overview

CBCAP stands for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, which consists of specific types of child abuse prevention programs in every state in the U.S. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is the state lead for CBCAP in Oklahoma.

The primary federal legislation addressing the prevention of child abuse and neglect is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), initially enacted in 1974. This act has been amended multiple times over the last 37 years and was most recently amended and reauthorized on December 10, 2010, by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-320).

The CBCAP programs were established by Title II of CAPTA and most recently reauthorized in December 2010. The purpose of the CBCAP program is two-fold:

  1. To support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, enhance, and coordinate initiatives, programs, and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as to support the coordination of resources and activities to strengthen and support families, thereby reducing the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.
  2. To foster understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of diverse populations to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect effectively.

CBCAP programs should offer activities to the general population, including public awareness and education about preventing child abuse and neglect. Additionally, programs should provide services to vulnerable families at risk of abuse or neglect. Some examples of families included are:

  • All parents
  • Parents and/or children with disabilities
  • Racial and ethnic minorities
  • Members of underserved or underrepresented groups
  • Fathers 
  • Homeless families and those at risk of homelessness
  • Unaccompanied homeless youth
  • Adult former victims of child abuse and neglect or domestic violence

CBCAP programs are authorized to fund child abuse prevention programs in their service area that provide a multitude of services and supports. These services and programs can include:

  • Comprehensive support for parents
  • Promote the development of parenting skills
  • Improve family access to formal and informal resources
  • Support the needs of parents with disabilities through respite or other activities
  • Provide referrals for early health and development services
  • Promote meaningful parent leadership

Programs can also support the development of a range of preventive services through partnerships between the public and private sectors. This can involve financing the launch, maintenance, expansion or reconfiguration of child abuse prevention programs, as well as maximizing funding by leveraging resources. In addition, funding can be used to support public education activities focused on promoting child abuse prevention.

Learn more about the Oklahoma CBCAP-funded activities in the latest annual program report under Publications.

Publications

Contact Information

LaChez' English, CBCAP Grant Coordinator

Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Office of Child Abuse Prevention
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave, Ste. 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Phone: (405) 426-8401

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