The Section for Child Safety and Well-Being is leading state efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect as part of the UNM Grand Challenge initiative, which supports interdisciplinary approaches to important public issues.
More Information: Mitigating Risk and Supporting Protective Factors to Prevent Child Maltreatment
New Mexico has high rates of child maltreatment and child maltreatment fatalities compared to the rest of the US (US HHS).
When measured by proven risk and protective factors for child maltreatment, New Mexico ranks 50th among US states (Annie E. Casey).
While maltreatment can occur in any home, minority and marginalized children are disproportionally affected.
Preventing child maltreatment can prevent other forms of violence, including youth violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, self-harm and suicide.
New Mexico is already supporting several programs that have been proven to prevent child maltreatment, including home visiting programs, positive parenting programs, and preschool enrichment programs with family engagement.
Currently available data on child maltreatment and risk and protective factors in New Mexico is incomplete, making it challenging to measure the impact of prevention programs.
In 2022, UNM launched the Child Health Grand Challenge, whose aim is to formulate a systematic approach to preventing child maltreatment in New Mexico, with the aspirational goal of improving the health of New Mexican children and of our state social ecology at large. The team includes academics from multiple medical and non-medical disciplines, community providers, and state agency stakeholders, working together to study and implement proven prevention programs, and improve the lives of children and families.
