New grant will continue center’s work to prevent abuse and support children
Jul 5, 2023
Child maltreatment — which includes physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect — affects at least 12% of children under 18 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year, around two million children in the U.S. experience maltreatment, and the…
Penn State participates in Child Abuse Prevention Month event at state capital
Apr 17, 2023
Child abuse is a public health issue, with child protective services responding to almost four million allegations of child maltreatment across the country each year. To draw attention to the issue, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in Pennsylvania, the recently held Child Abuse…
Researchers analyze costs of child sexual abuse prevention programs
Sep 6, 2022
Researchers at Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network analyzed the costs related to implementing a child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention program in schools in a new study. Regularly viewed as a human rights violation, public health experts estimate that 27% of females and 5% of males are…
Military sexual trauma more likely among veterans with adversity, trauma
Aug 17, 2022
Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is psychological trauma resulting from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment occurring while serving on active duty, active duty training, or inactive duty training in the military. Although a significant number of…
Diagnosing head injuries key in child abuse cases
Feb 15, 2022
Being able to accurately diagnose suspected child abuse is crucial, as an incorrect diagnosis can possibly lead to traumatic family separations and questionable criminal charges or result in the return of the child to an abusive situation. Researchers at Penn State are committed to improving the…
Conference focuses on latest child maltreatment research methods
Nov 2, 2021
Investigating the newest methods for research concerning children was the focus of the 2021 Child Maltreatment Solutions Network Conference, held recently at Penn State’s University Park campus at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, both in person and virtually. The two-day event featured 17…
Reducing missed abusive head trauma in pediatric intensive care units
May 27, 2021
Abusive head trauma (AHT) is one of the leading causes of traumatic death and disability in infants and young children in the United States. A missed diagnosis can lead to death if the child is mistakenly returned to an abusive situation. For the first time, Penn State researchers, including lead…