Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Written with students, child advocates, and policymakers in mind, this book foregrounds recommendations for preventing child maltreatment by examining historical and contemporary changes in U.S. child welfare practice and social policy and summarizing research on the causes and consequences of child maltreatment. The book draws on findings from the Lehigh Longitudinal Study, one of the longest-running studies on child maltreatment in the United States, to trace the evolution of research since the 1970s and make connections to federal policy and child protection services. We consider how well child welfare policy and services have met the needs of vulnerable children and families and consider alternatives that will advance a public health response centered on prevention.</jats:p>