The University of Minnesota conducted this study for Dakota County in fall of 2004. The study compared rates of child maltreatmentﾗchild abuse and neglectﾗamong families involved in the Dakota Healthy Families program from July 2002 through June 2004, with a comparison group of similar families not involved in Dakota Healthy Families. The study was undertaken to determine whether Dakota Healthy Families is effective in preventing child abuse among parents at risk to perpetrate maltreatment, and at a rate sufficient to off-set program costs. Child maltreatment records for 220 home visited families were reviewed at 1 to 2.5 years of program participation. This report details the study methodology and results.Prepared in partnership with Dakota County Public Health by the Community Assistantship Program (CAP), administered by the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota
