Skip to main content

Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention

Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP)

What is CBCAP

CBCAP stands for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention. It refers to specific types of child abuse prevention programs that exist in every state in the U.S. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is the state lead for CBCAP in Oklahoma.

What legislation supports CBCAP?

The key Federal legislation addressing prevention in child abuse and neglect is the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) which was originally enacted in 1974. This Act has been amended several times in the last 37 years and was most recently amended and reauthorized on December 10th, 2010, by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-320).

Why were CBCAP programs created?

CBCAP programs were established by Title II of Capta and most recently reauthorized in December of 2010. The purpose of the CBCAP program is:

  1. to support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, enhance, and coordinate initiatives, programs, and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect and to support the coordination of resources and activities to better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect; and
  2. to foster understanding, appreciation and knowledge of diverse populations in order to effectively prevent and treat child abuse and neglect.CBCAP programs should have some activities available to the general population such as public awareness and education about preventing child abuse and neglect. In addition, programs should also target services to vulnerable families that are at risk of abuse or neglect. These families include:
  3. What is the target population for CBCAP programs?
  • Parents (all, new, teens, etc.)
  • Parents and/or children with disabilities
  • Racial and ethnic minorities
  • Members of underserved or underrepresented groups
  • Fathers 
  • Homeless families and those at risk of homelessness
  • Unaccompanied homeless youth
  • Adult former victims of child abuse and neglect or domestic violence

What activities are authorized under CBCAP?

CBCAP programs are authorized to fund child abuse prevention programs in their service area that provide a multitude of services and supports. These services and programs can include:

  • Comprehensive support for parents
  • Promote the development of parenting skills
  • Improve family access to formal and informal resources
  • Support needs of parents with disabilities through respite or other activities
  • Provide referrals for early health and development services
  • Promote meaningful parent leadership 

Programs can also finance the development of a continuum of preventive services through public-private partnerships, financing the start-up, maintenance, expansion, or redesign or child abuse prevention programs, maximizing funding through leveraging funds, and financing public education activities that focus on the promotion of child abuse prevention.

Learn more about the Oklahoma CBCAP-funded activities in the latest annual program report. [See Publications]

Staff Information:
LaChez' English, MPH, MS 
CBCAP Grant Coordinator 

Contact Information:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave
Oklahoma City, Ok 73102