The efficacy of family support and family preservation services on reducing child abuse and neglect: what the literature reveals

Abstract

Globally, child protection services are under-resourced and unable to meet the demands associated with the increasing numbers of families who are being exposed to child abuse and neglect. Family support and family preservation interventions are the methods cited within the literature as those employed by child protection services to address this issue. Intensive family preservation services and cognitive behavioural therapy are discussed as the most effective interventions currently used by child protection services. This article presents a review of the literature on the efficacy of family-centred interventions for child abuse and neglect. Revealed in this review is that such efficacy remains controversial, with literature affirming that the most successful practice is a combination of interventions applied simultaneously. The literature reviewed suggests that more contemporary research around family-centred interventions for child abuse and neglect is required.