The problem of child maltreatment is so pervasive that a public health response is required. The CDC has developed a research agenda that identifies priorities for the prevention of child maltreatment; the current article describes the priority setting process and some of the prevention priorities and activities of the CDC. A public health response to the prevention of child maltreatment is appropriate because it is an action-oriented approach that seeks to affect health outcomes broadly. The authors describe the CDC’s priority setting process, which involves multiple meetings of experts from across various disciplines. The CDC’s surveillance of the problem of child maltreatment is reviewed and includes improved data collection efforts, such as the collaboration with five States to develop child maltreatment surveillance systems in hospitals and emergency departments. The authors briefly review the etiologic and risk factor research on child maltreatment, as well as the CDC’s current intervention and evaluation projects, which include Positive Parenting Programs and Project SafeCare. Finally, current CDC implementation and dissemination projects are reviewed, which seek to facilitate the implementation and dissemination of child maltreatment prevention strategies. Figure, appendixes, references