Revision Date: 6-11-2026
3.1 Statewide Prevention Program Overview
The Children’s Division (CD) understands the importance of family preservation and connection to communities. The purpose of the Statewide Prevention Program is to support families so they can thrive, for children to remain safely with their families, and for families to use their support networks and community connections. The Statewide Prevention Program engages with families prior to allegations of child abuse or neglect occurring. It is not intended to circumvent the hotline process; and suspected child abuse or neglect must still be reported through the hotline.
The goal of the Statewide Prevention Program is to prevent or reduce the likelihood of future child abuse and neglect, by connecting families to community services, programs and developing sustainable family supports. When working with families it is important to distinguish between poverty and neglect because poverty is not neglect. Prevention workers should fully assess the needs of the family to determine the root cause of the current need to connect families to appropriate resources, services, and supports.
The Statewide Prevention Program strives to understand family circumstances, unique challenges, and engage collaboratively to provide resources and tailor services which fit individualized family needs. Prevention workers engage with families experiencing a family need or hardship and identified risk factors prior to it becoming a situation where there are concerns for child abuse or neglect. The desired outcome is for children to remain safely in their own homes, family functioning and protective capacities to increase, and families to feel supported and able to sustain positive outcomes.
Table of Contents
3.1 Statewide Prevention Program
3.1.1 Prevention Workers: Roles and Responsibilities
3.1.2 Prevention Criteria
3.1.3 Prevention Referrals
3.1.4 Supervisor Consult