Paid Family Leave: An Upstream Intervention to Prevent Family Violence

Abstract

Purpose Family violence imposes tremendous costs on victims and society. Rarely are policies focused on the primary prevention of family violence. Given the prevalence of family violence—including child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV)—during the perinatal period, policies targeting this vulnerable time period may be successful in primary prevention. Paid family leave (PFL) programs provide income-replacement during particularly stressful family events, such as the birth of a child. Method In this commentary, we describe the conceptual links between PFL, child maltreatment, and IPV, suggesting that PFL may be a promising strategy for the primary prevention of child maltreatment and IPV. Results There is emerging evidence that policies targeting the early years of life may reduce child maltreatment and IPV. Conclusion Addressing the concrete and economic challenges faced by caregivers is one promising strategy for the prevention of family violence.

Abusive head trauma and crying infant–Public awareness of newborn and infant trauma

“…28,29 Additional financial support can reduce the economic challenges faced by caregivers and is a promising strategy for the prevention of family violence, including AHT. 30 Klevens et al showed that paid family leave could potentially prevent AHT by showing a significant decrease in AHT admissions. 31 Furthermore, prenatal and infancy home visits by nurses had shown a greater impact in families with a high risk of child abuse and neglect (low-income, first births, unmarried and adolescent parents) in a long-term follow-up of a 30 years programme of research.…”

“…Although parent education probably lacks effectiveness to prevent AHT, social measures such as refundable earned income tax credits were associated with a decrease in AHT admissions, and an increase in income led to a reduction in child maltreatment 28,29 . Additional financial support can reduce the economic challenges faced by caregivers and is a promising strategy for the prevention of family violence, including AHT 30 . Klevens et al.…”