Implementing the Research

As a result of the research conducted, four frames were identified – parenting, child abuse and neglect, child development and community – that the field can use to advance a variety of policies and behavior changes.  All four frames have assets and liabilities advocates must be aware of when talking about this issue, but the child development and community frames do present the most promise for advocates.

Two of the biggest hurdles facing advocates are the public’s misunderstanding of child development and the “Family Bubble.” These challenges in turn give the field the best opportunity to develop new communications within the child development and community frames that can ultimately help shift public will and policies concerning child abuse and neglect prevention.

In this section, you will find practical information, materials and guidelines on how to best implement the reframing research to increase public understanding and engagement of child abuse prevention. Also included are several case studies from organizations that have used the research findings and recommendations to implement new communications strategies.

Many of the recommendations can be used across all frames, but pay close attention to the specific challenges and recommendations for each frame respectively. The documents included in this section highlight key elements, but do not represent the FrameWorks Institute’s research in its entirety. The complete set of recommendations can be found in the FrameWorks Message Memo, Susan Nall Bales, FrameWorks Institute, under the Strategic Frame Analysis section.


Implementing the Research