Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

  • This strategy can promote healthy childhood environments and help address educational disparities. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve these outcomes are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
  • Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Program overview

  • Training caregivers to reduce abuse and neglect: SafeCare is an in-home training program for caregivers of children under the age of 5. The program aims to teach caregivers behaviors and strategies that reduce the likelihood of child abuse or neglect.

  • Relevant to a range of organizations: SafeCare is delivered by a range of nonprofit and public agencies that work with families with young children. These include county and state public health departments, child welfare agencies, criminal justice systems (e.g., through family drug courts), and more. Typically, an organization delivering SafeCare will recruit participants via referrals from other youth-serving agencies.

  • Promoting relational, environmental, and physical safety: The training program consists of three modules: parent-child interaction, safety, and health. The parent-child interaction module teaches caregivers strategies to promote a positive relationship between them and their child, such as structuring daily activities or providing engaging activities. The safety module, in turn, helps caregivers identify and remove health hazards in their home. Lastly, the health module prepares caregivers to identify common childhood illnesses and injuries and determine how to care for their child.

  • Providing focused, in-home training: The modules are delivered in-home by a public health or child welfare worker who has been trained in the SafeCare model. At the start of each module, an observational assessment is used to determine caregivers’ baseline skillset and identify which skills are most needed to promote child safety. Typically, the program consists of 18 weekly sessions that run one hour each.

Cost per Participant
Not available

Multiple studies with rigorous designs provide some evidence for SafeCare as a strategy for preventing child abuse and neglect.

Note: This content is under review.

  • Identify a champion: The organizations with the most successful SafeCare programs often identified an effective champion to lead their implementation efforts. As a member of the organization’s leadership team, the champion communicates with staff to inform and motivate them about the implementation, builds support, and addresses challenges.

  • Staff to ensure proper caseloads: Staff delivering the SafeCare modules have multiple responsibilities, including travel, conducting sessions, documentation, follow-up communication with families, and more. With weekly sessions, the maximum caseload for a full-time staff member should be 12-15 families, which represents 48-60 home visits per month.

  • Develop effective coaches: Coaches are local SafeCare experts that ensure that providers are delivering the model with fidelity. Effective coaches are proficient with the SafeCare model, can communicate effectively, understand the importance of program fidelity, and are committed to ongoing coaching. Typically, one coach can support 4 to 5 providers.

  • Leverage program data: Organizations delivering SafeCare receive access to the SafeCare Portal, a web-based data management platform. Through it, organizations can track the performance and progress of providers, coaches, and trainers, as well as access anonymized family data, including program completion, behavior change, and satisfaction rates. These data can be leveraged to demonstrate the program’s effectiveness to funders and identify potential process improvements.