Strong Families Need Strong Systems

Our Approach

Preventing child abuse and neglect takes more than responding when a family is in crisis. It means building a system that supports parents, strengthens communities, and connects families with resources when they need it.

At the Children’s Trust, we’re working to make that system stronger across Massachusetts.

Creating Lasting Change

Preventing child abuse and neglect is complex. Meaningful progress requires strategies that can evolve with families’ changing needs and experiences. Our work focuses on five interconnected priorities that can create long-term change:

• Activate a Training Institute to give family support staff the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to better serve families.
• Strengthen father engagement so fathers can play a meaningful role in their children’s lives and contribute to stronger outcomes for the whole family.
• Connect family support networks to improve coordination, share knowledge, and advance solutions together.
• Prevent child sexual abuse through education, policy, and community-based approaches.
• Support families before a crisis by changing culture, policy, and practice so support becomes the first response.

Together, these priorities are helping build a future where families are strong, children are safe, and every community is equipped to help families thrive.

Help Build a Stronger System for Families

Whether you’re a parent, practitioner, community partner, policymaker, or supporter, you have a role in prevention.

Learn more about our work and how you can help build a Massachusetts where children are safe and every family can find support.