In observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, Part 1 of our two-part series explores the risk and protective factors related to child maltreatment, with a particular focus on healthcare and forensic nursing. In today’s episode, we are joined by Jennifer Pierce-Weeks, Chief Executive Officer of IAFN, as we discuss our experiences working with this vulnerable patient population. We also highlight the critical role that social support, proper patient care, and education play in preventing child abuse.

Key Episode Learnings:

• Learn about the key protective factors against child maltreatment, including social support networks, parental involvement, and emotional support for parents.
• Discover how social services can play a crucial role in both identifying and preventing child maltreatment through education and providing necessary resources to parents.
• Understand the impact of parental education on reducing the risk of maltreatment, and how even basic education can serve as a protective factor.
• Explore the subtle red flags in cases of child maltreatment, including the importance of healthcare providers asking the right questions and paying attention to inconsistencies in patient stories.
• Realize how personal experiences shape understanding of child welfare, as shared by the guest and hosts, underscoring the significance of awareness and proper response in nursing practice.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode, where we will discuss mandatory reporting and how forensic nursing can address suspected cases of child maltreatment.

Suggested Reading:

• Article 1: Austin, A. E., Lesak, A. M., & Shanahan, M. E. (2020). Risk and protective factors for child maltreatment: A review. Current Epidemiology Reports, 7(4), 334-342. Doi: 10.1007/s40471-020-00252-3
• Article 2: Winqust, A., Burduli, E., Eddy, L. L., Giardino, T. L., Fraser, J., & Leiker, C. B. (2025). Workplace experiences of nurses in their role as child abuse and neglect mandated reporters. Child Abuse & Neglect, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107250
• Article 3: Santhosch, S. U., Shukla, D., & Rani, S. C. M. (2023). The vital role of forensic nurses in caring for abused children. International Journal of Ethics, Trauma and Victimology, 9(2), 29-32.
• IAFN Child Physical Abuse Course: This 8-hour course will assist the pediatric forensic nurse in increasing comfort and competence in providing comprehensive care for the physically abused child. https://learn.forensicnurses.org/Listing/Child-Physical-Abuse-5412

Resources

• IAFN Online Learning Center (OLC): forensicnurses.org/page/OLCAccess/
• TeleSAFE Toolkit: Access this Step-by-Step Guide to a Trauma-Informed Program at forensicnurses.org/page/TeleSAFE/
• International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN): Learn more at forensicnurses.org
• IAFN Foundation: Support our work to spread forensic nursing at fundforensicnursing.org
• IAFN’s SAFEta Resources: Explore safeta.org
• National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA): Supporting tribal communities at supportingourcircle.org

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