State-level Data for Understanding Child Welfare in the United States – Child Trends

Report on Child Maltreatment in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Child Maltreatment as a Barrier to Sustainable Development

Child maltreatment, encompassing both neglect and abuse, represents a significant global challenge that directly contravenes the principles of sustainable development. It is associated with severe negative outcomes that impede human potential and societal progress.

Alignment with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The response to child maltreatment is a core component of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16, particularly Target 16.2, which calls for an end to abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence against children. Institutional frameworks, such as child protective services, are essential for this purpose. The process involves several key stages:

1. Receipt of referrals concerning potential child maltreatment.
2. Formal investigation by agencies to determine if maltreatment occurred and to assess ongoing risk to children.
3. Determination of the need for intervention and supportive services.

Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Maltreatment poses a direct threat to Sustainable Development Goal 3 by inflicting lasting damage on the physical and mental health of children. The documented consequences undermine the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

• Physical injuries
• Long-term psychological problems
• Death, in extreme cases

Interventional Strategies Supporting Multiple SDGs

The services provided to affected children and families are critical interventions that support the achievement of multiple SDGs. These services aim to mitigate harm and build resilience, contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• Family Preservation Services: Aims to maintain family unity and stability, indirectly supporting SDG 1 (No Poverty) by addressing familial stressors.
• Foster Care: A protective institutional measure to ensure child safety, aligning with SDG 16.2.
• Mental Health Supports: Directly addresses the psychological trauma of abuse, a key target of SDG 3.
• Substance Abuse Treatment: An essential health intervention for caregivers that contributes to creating a safe environment for children, supporting targets within SDG 3.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues connected to two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This goal is relevant because the article explicitly mentions the negative health outcomes of child maltreatment, including “physical injuries, psychological problems, and (in extreme cases) death.” It also highlights health-related interventions such as “mental health supports, and substance abuse treatment” provided to affected children and families.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This goal is central to the article’s theme. The discussion of “child neglect and abuse,” which are forms of violence against children, directly relates to the goal of promoting peaceful and just societies. The role of “child protective services agencies” in investigating reports and providing services represents the “strong institutions” needed to protect vulnerable populations.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • Explanation: The article’s entire focus is on “Child neglect and abuse—also known as maltreatment,” which directly aligns with this target’s objective to end all forms of violence against children. The work of child protective services described in the text is a direct mechanism for addressing this target.
2. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Explanation: The article connects child maltreatment to “psychological problems” and mentions “mental health supports” as a key service. This directly relates to the target’s aim of promoting mental health and well-being.
3. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • Explanation: The article identifies “substance abuse treatment” as one of the services that children and families may receive. This shows a direct link to the target of strengthening substance abuse treatment.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Implied Indicator for Target 16.2: The number of investigations of maltreatment reports.
  • Explanation: The article states that “child protective services agencies investigate to determine whether children are at risk of maltreatment.” The tracking of these investigations, as referenced by the hidden text “Investigations of maltreatment reports,” serves as a direct measure of the system’s response to and identification of violence against children.
• Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: The provision and uptake of mental health supports for affected children and families.
  • Explanation: The article lists “mental health supports” as a service provided. Measuring the number of families or children who receive these supports would be an indicator of progress in addressing the psychological problems resulting from maltreatment.
• Implied Indicator for Target 3.5: The provision and uptake of substance abuse treatment for affected families.
  • Explanation: By mentioning “substance abuse treatment” as a service, the article implies that tracking the number of individuals or families receiving this treatment is a relevant metric for progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: childtrends.org