Federal Interagency Work Group on Child Abuse & Neglect

About the Work Group

The amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 1988 created a Federal Inter-Agency Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect as the sister organization to the newly created U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. The Task Force consisted of approximately 30 member agencies drawn from the eight Cabinet Departments and the Office of Personnel Management. The Director of the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) was the statutory chairperson of the Task Force.

When the 1996 CAPTA amendments created an Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, replacing the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN), it also eliminated the requirement for a Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect.

However, the existing Task Force members agreed that it was important to maintain the connections and to continue their work. The name was changed to Federal Interagency Work Group on Child Abuse and Neglect as Task Forces have specific meanings and requirements under Federal law.

Current Activities

Since 1996, the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect has continued to lead and coordinate the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Child Abuse and Neglect (FEDIAWG). Over 40 Federal agencies are represented. The FEDIAWG meets in-person on a quarterly basis and various Subcommittees meet on a more regular basis via conference calls. The overall goals of the FEDIAWG are:

• To provide a forum through which staff from relevant Federal agencies can communicate and exchange ideas concerning child maltreatment related programs and activities;
• To collect information about Federal child maltreatment  activities; and
• To provide a basis for collective action through which funding and resources can be maximized.

There are two Subcommittees and related workgroups:

Prevention Subcommittee
Research Subcommittee: NIH Child Abuse and Neglect Working Group

Agency Highlights

• Children's Bureau 17th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect
  "Focusing on the Future: Strengthening Families and Communities"
  March 30- April 4, 2009
  Atlanta, GA
  Contact Pal Tech for more information.

Webinars

The Prevention Subcommittee presents monthly webinars related to child abuse and neglect prevention and related issues. For more information contact Jean Nussbaum at jean.nussbaum@acf.hhs.gov

• View upcoming webinars
• View previous webinars

FEDIAWG Portal

We will be adding the FEDIAWG Portal. It will allow member agencies to share information on their programs and initiatives. It will also offer meeting agendas and minutes from previous meetings. Members may sign in for previous meeting agendas, topics, and minutes. Login will be required.

The next meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at the L'Enfant Plaza hotel

Work Group Members

The following Departments and their subsequent Program Offices are members of the Interagency Workgroup:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office on Child Abuse and Neglect
Children's Bureau
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1250 Maryland Ave., SW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20024
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/index.htm

The Children's Bureau seeks to provide for the safety, permanency and well being of children through leadership, support for necessary services, and productive partnerships with States, Tribes, and communities.

The Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) provides leadership and direction on the issues of child maltreatment and the prevention of abuse and neglect under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and the Children's Justice Act (CJA). The Director of the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect chairs the Federal Interagency Work Group on Child Abuse and Neglect and coordinates the work group's activities.

Also participating on the Federal Interagency Work Group on Child Abuse and Neglect are the Children's Bureau's Divisions of Research and Innovation, Child Welfare Capacity Building and Program Implementation.

Child Welfare Information Gateway
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1250 Maryland Ave., SW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20024
703-385-7565 or 800-394-3366
Email: info@childwelfare.gov
http://www.childwelfare.gov

A service of the Children's Bureau, the Child Welfare Information Gateway promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families by connecting child welfare, adoption and related professionals as well as concerned citizens to timely, essential information.

Family and Youth Services Bureau
Family Violence Prevention and Services Program
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1250 Maryland Ave., SW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20024
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/familyviolence/index.htm

The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) provides national leadership on youth and family issues. The Bureau promotes positive outcomes for children, youth, and families by supporting a wide range of comprehensive services and collaborations at the local, Tribal, State, and national levels. Through the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program, FYSB awards grants to State agencies, Territories and Indian Tribes for the provision of shelter to victims of family violence and their dependents, and for related services, such as emergency transportation and child care.

Child Care Bureau
Office of Family Assistance
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW
Washington, DC 20447
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/

The Child Care Bureau (CCB) supports low-income working families through child care financial assistance and promotes children's learning by improving the quality of early care and education and after school programs.

Division of Child and Family Development
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW
Washington, DC 20447
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) is responsible for advising the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of programs to improve the economic and social well-being of children and families. In collaboration with ACF program offices and others, OPRE is responsible for performance management for ACF, conducts research and policy analyses, and develops and oversees research and evaluation projects to assess program performance and inform policy and practice.

Office of Human Services Policy
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
http://aspe.hhs.gov/_/office_specific/index.cfm

The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) advises the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on policy development in health, disability, human services, data, and science, and provides advice and analysis on economic policy. ASPE conducts research and evaluation studies, develops policy analyses, and estimates the cost and benefits of policy alternatives under consideration by the Department or Congress. The Office of Human Services Policy in ASPE is HHS' Chief Economist on welfare, service delivery issues, and policies affecting children, youth, and families. The office works closely with the Administration for Children and Families, the Department's Children's Council, and a variety of Departments and other agencies.

Indian Health Service
Division of Behavioral Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
801 Thompson Avenue
Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852
http://www.ihs.gov/
http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/Behavioral/

The Indian Health Service (IHS) raises the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level to assure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal and public health services are available and accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native people. IHS'Division of Behavioral Health strives to support tribal and urban Native communities to eliminate behavioral health diseases and conditions and to promote health, resilience, and strength in all native communities.

Office of Minority Health
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Rockwall II Building, Room 1000
Rockville, MD 20852
http://www.omhrc.gov/

The mission of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. It advises the Secretary and the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) on public health program activities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
31 Center Drive
Building 31, Room B1C19
Bethesda, MD 20892
http://obssr.od.nih.gov/content

The mission of the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) is to stimulate behavioral and social science research throughout NIH and to integrate these areas of research more fully into others of the NIH health research enterprise, thereby improving our understanding, treatment, and prevention of disease.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Child Development and Behavior Branch
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
6100 Executive Blvd Room 4B05A, MSC 7510
Bethesda MD 20892-7510
For FedEx use: Rockville MD 20852
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/org/crmc/cdb/

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) conducts and supports research on all stages of human development, from preconception to adulthood, to better understand the health of children, adults, families, and communities.

The Child Development and Behavior (CDB) Branch develops scientific initiatives and supports research and research training relevant to the psychological, psychobiological, language, behavioral, and educational development of children. The following theme characterizes all Branch programs: Development is best described and studied as a variable process in which individual differences in cognitive, social, affective, language, neurobiological maturation, environment and life experiences, and genetics interact in complex ways.

Child Abuse and Neglect Program
Division of Developmental Translational Research
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6185
Bethesda, MD 20892-9617
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/ddtr/index.shtml
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/organization/ddtr/child-abuse-and-neglect-program.shtml

The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure.

The Division of Developmental Translational Research (DDTR) supports programs of research and research training with the ultimate goal of preventing and curing childhood psychopathology. DDTR supports research that employs a developmental perspective on a variety of related basic behavioral processes and the psychopathology that arises from their dysfunction. These efforts to translate knowledge from basic research to a new understanding of clinical disorders share the goal of developing novel treatment and prevention strategies. The Child Abuse and Neglect Program within DDTR supports research that addresses child abuse and neglect, and familial aspects of traumatic stress as risk factors for psychopathology in children and adolescents.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Office of Policy, Coordination and Planning
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1 Choke Cherry, Room 5-1039
Rockville, MD 20850
http://csat.samhsa.gov

The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), promotes the quality and availability of community-based substance abuse treatment services for individuals and families who need them. CSAT works with States and community-based groups to improve and expand existing substance abuse treatment services under the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Program.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Division of Healthy Start and Perinatal Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Parklawn Building Room 18-05
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
http://mchb.hrsa.gov/

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has the primary responsibility for promoting and improving the health of our nation's women, children and families.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Violence Prevention
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
4770 Buford Hwy., NE - Mailstop K60
Atlanta, GA 30341
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/CMP/

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) child maltreatment program is coordinated by the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). The mission of the Division is to prevent violence-related injuries and deaths through surveillance, research and development, capacity building, communication and leadership. In pursuit of that mission, CDC's efforts to prevent child maltreatment focus on developing, evaluating, and disseminating evidence-based interventions that support safe, stable and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) for children.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Family Life and Human Development
Families, 4-H and Nutrition
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Street Address:
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Waterfront Centre
800 9th St. SW., Washington, DC 20024
Mailing Address:
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
1400 Independence Avenue SW., Stop 2201
Washington, DC 20250-2201
http://www.extension.org ; http://www.csrees.usda.gov

The Cooperative Extension System (CES) is a nationwide educational collaboration of federal, state, and local governments and state land-grant universities. The mission of CES is to disseminate research-based information on topics as varied as family and child development, health, nutrition, agriculture, small business and personal finance. CES is uniquely positioned to reach out to parents, caregivers and family members, especially in rural and isolated areas - to inform and educate them about the myriad issues, challenges, and opportunities related to raising children. CES's new eXtension (pronounced e-extension) Initiative www.extension.org provides a web-based interactive learning environment linking users to resources of CES to support a variety of educational outreach efforts including resources to promote healthy families. For more information, contact the Families, 4-H & Nutrition Unit/Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service/United State Department of Agriculture.

U.S. Department of Defense

Family Advocacy Program
Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
Military Community and Family Policy
U.S. Department of Defense
4000 Defense Pentagon, Room 5A726
Washington, DC 20301-4000
http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/portal/page/mhf/MHF/MHF_HOMEPAGE

The Department of Defense (DOD) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) provides social services to prevent, identify, intervene and treat child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse, including domestic violence, at each installation with command-sponsored families around the world. FAPs coordinate with civilian child welfare and domestic violence agencies when abuse or neglect is identified. FAPs teach parenting skills, provide extra support for first-time parents, teach stress management, offer counseling and conduct public awareness activities about family maltreatment. FAPs also operate the New Parent Support Program, a secondary prevention program that uses an intensive, voluntary home visitation model developed specifically for at-risk parents to reduce the risk of child abuse.

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Office of Special Education Programs
U.S. Department of Education
550 12th Street SW, 4065
Washington, DC 20202-2600
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) provides a wide array of supports to parents and individuals, school districts and States in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation and research.

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Indian Affairs
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW, MS4603
Washington, DC 20240
http://www.doi.gov/bia/

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) works to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives.

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice
Office of Research and Evaluation
Victim and Victimization Research Division
U.S. Department of Justice
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the State and local levels. The Office of Research and Evaluation develops, conducts, directs, and supervises research and evaluation activities across a wide variety of issues.

Office for Victims of Crime
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/welcovc/welcome.html

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) was established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to oversee diverse programs that benefit victims of crime. OVC provides substantial funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs-the lifeline services that help victims to heal. The agency supports training designed to educate criminal justice and allied professionals regarding the rights and needs of crime victims. OVC also sponsors an annual event in April to commemorate National Crime Victims Rights Week (NCVRW).

Office on Violence against Women
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/violence-against-women/welcome.htm

The mission of the Violence Against Women and Family Violence Research and Evaluation program is to promote the safety of women and family members, and to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system's response to these crimes.

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) accomplish its mission by supporting states, local communities, and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and implement effective programs for juveniles. The Office strives to strengthen the juvenile justice system's efforts to protect public safety, hold offenders accountable, and provide services that address the needs of youth and their families. OJJDP sponsors research, program, and training initiatives; develops priorities and goals and sets policies to guide federal juvenile justice issues; disseminates information about juvenile justice issues; and awards funds to states to support local programming.

Child Protection Division
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20531
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/about/DivProgram.asp?di=5&pp=division

The Child Protection Division (CPD) administers projects, programs, and initiatives related to crimes against children and children's exposure to violence. It provides leadership and funding in the areas of prevention, intervention, treatment, and enforcement. CPD promotes research and effective policies and procedures to address the problems of abused, neglected, missing, and exploited children and children who have been exposed to domestic or community violence.

U.S. Department of State

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW, SA-29, 4th FL.
Washington, DC 20520
http://www.state.gov/g/tip/

The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons provides the tools to combat trafficking in persons and assists in the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically.