Jan 24, 2014
Task Force on Essentials for Childhood
Time 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location NCIOM
630 Davis Dr., Suite 100, Morrisville, NC 27560
The NCIOM Task Force on Essentials for Childhood was tasked with studying and developing a collaborative, evidence-based, systems-oriented, public health-grounded strategic plan to reduce child maltreatment and secure family well-being in North Carolina. The Task Force Report summarizes the findings of the Task Force and the recommendations. Taken together, the recommendations of the Task Force will ensure North Carolina has a comprehensive, coordinated system to support child and family well-being.
Back to Task ForcesCo-Chairs
Kenneth A. Dodge, Ph.D.
Founding Director
Duke Center for Child and Family Policy
Kathy Pope
Board of Directors
Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina
Project Director
Michelle G. Ries, MPH
Project Director
North Carolina Institute of Medicine
Adverse experiences in childhood (ACEs) disrupt normal child development, negatively impacting brain architecture. Such impairment leaves children vulnerable and many children and adolescents adopt risky health and social behaviors such as drinking, overeating, and sexual promiscuity. In time, these risky behaviors can translate into poor health, disease, disability, and early death. Promoting safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments (SSNRs and Es) are essential to ensure children reach their full potential.
In 2004-2005, a group of state leaders from across multiple disciplines came together through a North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) Task Force on Child Abuse Prevention to study this issue and to develop a strategic plan. The Task Force met for nine months and developed a statewide strategic plan, New Directions for North Carolina (2005).
Since the publication of New Directions for North Carolina, tremendous gains have been made toward accomplishing recommendations regarding public health leadership, mobilization of public-private partnerships, shared decision-making, and increased replication of evidence-based programs. See 2008 report update here.
The goal of the NCIOM Task Force on Essentials for Childhood is to develop an integrated, comprehensive 5-year strategic plan to coordinate and prioritize the services, programs and/or policies of a number of state agencies that will build on New Directions for NC. Thus, the Task Force will increase the capacity at the state and community level to expand primary prevention of child maltreatment efforts by incorporating the four goals of the CDC’s Essentials for Childhood and applying a collective impact framework. The four goals identified by the Task Force include: