Pinwheels for Prevention events raise awareness
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network (CMSN) is sponsoring “Pinwheels for Prevention PSU” to engage the University community and foster awareness around child abuse during National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month in April. On April 11, 1-3 p.m., the CMSN, along with the…
Connell appointed The Ken Young Family Professor for Healthy Children
Christian M. Connell, professor of human development and family studies, was recently named The Ken Young Family Professor for Healthy Children in the College of Health and Human Development. The professorship is part of a $1 million gift to support a faculty member focused on enhancing the health…
Understanding how behavior problems are related to child abuse and neglect
Do abuse and neglect cause behavior problems among children or do behavior problems among children cause abuse and neglect? A new study from researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development confirmed that the former happens much more often than the latter. Anneke Olson,…
Scholarships in child maltreatment studies awarded
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network recently awarded scholarships to four students planning to enter the fields of child maltreatment and child advocacy. The de Lissovoy Intern Scholarship provides financial support to students in the Child Maltreatment and Advocacy…
Trauma screening may improve mental health service recommendations for children
Each year between 200,000 and 270,000 children and youth enter foster care placements with child welfare services, and many more children receive child welfare services while remaining in their parent's care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Although many of these…
Helping non-clinical staff identify problematic sexual behaviors among children
Identifying unusual and potentially harmful behaviors in children is vital to providing appropriate interventions, according to Penn State researchers. A Penn State research team partnered with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to develop an easy-to-use tool to help non-clinically trained staff…
Newly identified biomarkers may detect early cognitive decline via blood test
For some people, extreme stressors like psychiatric disorders or childhood neglect and abuse can lead to a range of health problems later in life, including depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. A new study led by researchers in the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging identified…
Youth in child welfare and juvenile justice systems conference held
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network Conference on supporting crossover youth involved with child welfare and juvenile court systems was recently held at Penn State’s University Park campus in the Hintz Alumni Family Center. The day-long conference showcased national…
New grant will continue center’s work to prevent abuse and support children
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…