New program takes aim at child abuse

At the end of its first year, the County-wide Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project (PIDP) is picking up steam and showing success in key areas. PIDP is a $5-million child abuse and neglect prevention project begun in February 2008, led by community-based providers in the county’s eight regional planning areas.

As part of the Demonstration Project, the agencies are creating local networks of family support and connecting families to services in a proactive effort to reduce and prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs – not reactively, after the children have already been endangered or hurt.

While the rates of children in foster care in Los Angeles County continue to decline, experts worry that the gains could be short-lived if the ongoing and increasingly serious economic downturn adds to families’ stress and boosts the risk of potential abuse, neglect and violence.

Supervisor Yaroslavsky, an early proponent of the preventive approach, sounded a cautiously hopeful note: “This cutting-edge pilot program offers an innovative and progressive approach to preventing child abuse and neglect. We are committed to do things differently—even new and untested things—to improve upon the way we work with and serve our kids and families.”

Over the next six months, program managers hope to build the resource network and expand the involvement of parents and community residents. The demonstration project is set to conclude in June 2009.