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OJJDP offered a week-long training course on child fatality investigations (CFI) at the 22nd Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment, January 28–February 1, 2008. This continuing education event was presented by the Chadwick Center for Children and Families, part of Rady Children's Hospital and Health Center. OJJDP Administrator J. Robert Flores offered welcoming remarks on the first day of the training program.

Flores began by recognizing the somber nature of the gathering, and the significance of the work of child fatality investigators:

While it is a pleasure to be here in beautiful San Diego, the topic that has brought us together today, child fatalities that arise from abuse and neglect, is one of the most troubling that confronts us as juvenile justice professionals. Of all of the negative outcomes that can occur as a result of child abuse and neglect, a child's death is the most tragic.

At OJJDP, my staff and I focus daily on vulnerable children and children at risk for all kinds of negative outcomes. Nevertheless, we are not often forced to confront the reality of children who die at the hands of abusive or neglectful caretakers.

It heartens me that there is a cadre of professionals from many different systems who make it their work to see that the cases of child victims, whom we as a society could not protect during their too short lives, are handled with dignity and diligence. The work that you do to understand how these children became victims furthers our understanding of how best to support families who are struggling with the responsibility of caring for a child and to intervene effectively, when necessary, to protect children whose safety is endangered.

Flores noted the troubling statistics showing that the victims' parents—often young, single parents—are involved in 80 percent of child abuse and neglect cases, including fatality cases. He explained:

Frequently, the perpetrator is a young adult in his or her mid-20s, without a high school diploma, living at or below the poverty level, depressed, and who may have difficulty coping with stressful situations. Lower income, increased stress caused by the total burden of family responsibilities, and fewer supports are thought to contribute to the risk of single parents maltreating their children. In many instances, the perpetrator has also been a victim of violence.

Making matters worse is a "disturbing trend. . . in which one or a stream of boyfriends may be introduced into the home" of children being raised by single mothers. Flores pointed to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics that found that children living in households with unrelated adults are nearly 50 times as likely to be fatally abused as children living with their two biological parents.

Flores reiterated the Bush Administration's commitment to protecting children by helping to strengthen families. He quoted President George W. Bush:

Research has shown that, on average, children raised in households headed by married parents fare better than children who grow up in other family structures. Through education and counseling programs, faith-based, community, and government organizations promote healthy marriages and a better quality of life for children. By supporting responsible child-rearing and strong families, my Administration is seeking to ensure that every child can grow up in a safe and loving home.

Flores offered a list of ways to help protect children from abuse and neglect:

• Supporting parents in developing nurturing behaviors, and fostering parent-child attachment.



• Making sure parents are educated about effective parenting strategies and child and youth development.



• Assessing and fostering parental resilience to deal with the physical and emotional challenges of raising children.



• Helping parents make social connections in their communities, so that they can draw upon support from their peers and more experienced parents in their neighborhoods, workplaces, community organizations and churches, and their children's schools.



• Providing concrete supports for parents through education and formal support groups, and assisting families who need resources to meet basic needs.

The purpose of the CFI training program was to provide law enforcement, child protective services workers, medical professionals, and other juvenile justice system professionals with comprehensive instruction on the detection, intervention, investigation, and prosecution of cases involving fatal child abuse and neglect. Topics covered included crime scene and forensic evidence, interviewing and interrogation, the role of the medical examiner, and case management and interagency collaboration.

On the Web, you can find a listing of other 2008 Regional Training Opportunities offered by OJJDP. For more information on ways to prevent child abuse and neglect, visit the Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Information Gateway.