Having an understanding

• Many factors can increase or decrease the likelihood of someone experiencing or perpetrating violence.
• Risk factors can increase the risk of experiencing or perpetrating violence and protective factors can reduce the risk.
• Preventing child abuse and neglect requires understanding and addressing risk and protective factors.

Common individual risk factors for child abuse include:

• Children younger than four years of age*
• Children with special needs that may increase caregiver burden (e.g., disabilities, mental health issues, and chronic physical illnesses)*

To learn more about risk factors for child abuse perpetration and protective factors, click here.

To learn more about protective factors and resilience, click here.