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In 1974 President Nixon signed CAPTA into law. This was the first significant effort by the federal government to be involved in child abuse and neglect and to improve responses to the issue.

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CAPTA also led to the creation of a Federal definition for child abuse and neglect.

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CAPTA mandated for the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN). The NCCAN was to support states in enhancing their reporting laws which lead NCCAN to start the National Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Study (NCANRS) to obtain and analyze data reports about child abuse and neglect.

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This policy provides Federal funding and guidance to States in support of prevention,
assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment.

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The CAPTA also provides
grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations. This includes Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.

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As a condition of receiving state grant funds under the act, states are required to have procedures in place for receiving and responding to allegations of abuse or neglect.

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CAPTA provides Federal funding and guidance to states in support of prevention, assessment, investigation, prosecution, and treatment activities.
- $85 million a year

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Title II of CAPTA supports community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, and coordinate programs and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect.
- $39 million a year

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The 1970 White House Conference on Children and Youth put a focus on child maltreatment. The issue of child abuse and neglect had also reached the house of representatives.

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The issue of child abuse and neglect gained broad visibility on Capitol Hill.

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State and local efforts in both public and private sectors to combat child abuse and neglect were widely deficient.

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The final bill passed in the House with a vote of 354 to 36, and in the Senate with a vote of 57 to 7.

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President Nixon signed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act into law on January 31, 1974.

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In the late 19th century, organized child protection started with Mary Ellen Wilson. Mary's high profile case of child maltreatment lead to the creation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC) in 1874.

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Up until the 20th century, charities were actively involved in child protection, but the government was not.

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The Children's Bureau was established in 1912. 

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The Children's Bureau was established in 1912. 

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Media attention on child abuse and neglect increased during the 1960s, as did the call for action.

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The passage of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act marked the nation’s first major step forward in addressing issues related to child maltreatment.

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Orphans and children whose parents could not care for them were often simply indentured to work for other families.

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Private religious and charitable organizations had established the first orphanages.

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The first state laws to prevent child abuse and neglect were passed.

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Authorized the first federal grants for the child welfare services.

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Over the next several decades, the definition of child welfare services was expanded to include a broader range of services. Federal funding increased.

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This program helped state provide financial assistance to needy dependent children.

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1962 - Public Welfare Amendments to the Social Security Act

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1962 - Public Welfare Amendments to the Social Security Act

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These amendments further emphasized the importance of delivering child welfare services to children whose homes were unstable.

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Congress enacted the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to created a single federal focus for preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect.

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This act has been amended several times.

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Liberalism is the ideology that most fits with CAPTA.

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Liberalism is the ideology that most fits with CAPTA.

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According to RCC, liberalism sees the formation of families as a highly rational choice for meeting the needs it is intended to address.

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Liberalism also argues for government policies to help all types of families from all walks of life carry out any functions they no longer can perform adequately.

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CAPTA is the key federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect.

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Child abuse was taking place primary through punishment.

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Mary Ellen Wilson was a child who was a high profile case of child maltreatment. After her case this led to the creation of  the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (SPCC) in 1874.

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In 1909 a conference was held and supported the creation of the federal Children’s Bureau, which was finally established in 1912. The Children’s Bureau (CB) was given a very broad mandate to:

1. investigate and report all matters pertaining to the welfare of children and child life among all classes of people, investigate the questions of infant mortality, monitored orphanages, and juvenile court, as well as accidents and diseases of children.

When CB was created the Federal Government was finally found to have some responsibility in keeping children safe.

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In 1962, Dr. C. Henry Kemp, published, "The Battered-Child Syndrome" in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This was the first time attention was brought to the public' s attention, but with hard data about the prevalence and consequences. This followed by the public requesting a form of mandated reporting which is still around today.  By 1967, every state had established some form of child abuse and neglect reporting law.

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The policy is based on data collected by the government from states as well as research completed by social workers and physicians. Many occupations play a key role in upholding this policy.

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All children would be covered by this policy by ensuring mandating reporting. This policy is expected to remain in place as child maltreatment is likely to continue.

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During legislation to enact CAPTA it was estimated that 60,000 children were reported to be abused each year. At the time there was no true way to identify an accurate number.

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National Child Abuse and Neglect Training and Publications Project (2014). The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: 40 years of safeguarding America’s children. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau.

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 National Child Abuse and Neglect Training and

Publications Project (2014). The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act:

40 years of safeguarding America’s children. Washington, DC:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau.

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Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2019). About CAPTA: a legislative history. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau.

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https://www.masslegalservices.org/system/files/library/Brief%20Legislative%20History%20of%20Child%20Welfare%20System.pdf

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https://www.cwla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CWLA-CAPTA.pdf