Nursing Interventions to Protect the Child from Further Harm

• The nursing interventions to protect the child from further harm are based on the assessment of the child’s needs, risks, and strengths, as well as the type, frequency, duration, severity, and chronicity of maltreatment
• The nursing interventions to protect the child from further harm can be classified into three levels:
  • Primary prevention: 
    • interventions that aim to prevent child abuse and neglect from occurring in the first place by addressing the risk factors and enhancing the protective factors at individual, family, community, and societal levels. 
    • Examples include educating parents and caregivers about child development, positive parenting skills, stress management, coping skills, conflict resolution, and available resources; 
    • providing home visitation programs for high-risk families; 
    • promoting social support networks for parents and caregivers; 
    • advocating for policies and laws that protect children’s rights and welfare; 
    • raising public awareness about child abuse and neglect and its prevention.
  • Secondary prevention: 
    • interventions that aim to identify and intervene with children and families who are at risk of or have experienced maltreatment by providing early detection, screening, assessment, referral, treatment, and follow-up services. 
    • Examples include conducting physical examinations, laboratory tests, radiographs, or other diagnostic procedures to detect signs of abuse or neglect; 
    • reporting suspected or confirmed cases of maltreatment to appropriate authorities or agencies; providing crisis intervention, counseling, therapy, medication, or other therapeutic modalities to address the physical, mental, emotional, social, and developmental needs of the child and family; 
    • referring the child and family to other health care providers or community resources that can offer specialized or ongoing care; 
    • and monitoring the progress and outcomes of the child and family through regular follow-up visits or phone calls.
  • Tertiary prevention: 
    • interventions that aim to prevent or reduce the recurrence or escalation of maltreatment by providing long-term support, rehabilitation, and recovery services for children and families who have experienced chronic or severe maltreatment. 
    • Examples include providing foster care, adoption, or kinship care for children who cannot safely return to their biological parents or caregivers; 
    • providing residential care, group homes, or independent living programs for older children or adolescents who need alternative living arrangements; 
    • providing case management, coordination, or advocacy services for children and families who are involved in the legal system or child welfare system; 
    • providing support groups, peer mentoring, or life skills training for children and families who need emotional or social support; 
    • providing education, employment, housing, or financial assistance for children and families who need economic support.