A US initiative that works with mothers who have not been reported for child maltreatment may hold the key to how evidence can be collected and agencies can work together to prevent abuse.

“There is no evidence that child protection systems get to the right children, or that they are having any effect on the incidence of maltreatment.” This is the claim of Michael Little, director of the Social Research Unit, and colleagues in a forthcoming review of the state of child protection in the UK. They say that the “heart” has shaped social policy, and argue for listening to the “head” instead.

How does an idea get from the drawing board into the real world of family interventions? The story of the Helping Families Programme offers a unique view into the designers’ world.

Can web delivery of a proven treatment for anxiety disorder offer a cheaper way to reach more teens? A new trial offers surprising results.

It’s tough being a teenager. One in five teens has a psychiatric disorder – and the rates of many problems increase in the teen years. But new research has discovered that some problems also get better in the transition from childhood to adolescence.

How relevant are mainstream parenting programs for parents from minority ethnic groups? One program developer says culture is not a significant barrier – but practical problems like timing and cost may be crucial.

Most interventions for children target single disorders. But in real life, disorders usually come in clusters – so programs that treat two problems at once can deliver big benefits for public health. Is the popular Incredible Years program one of this special breed?

Why do poor kids start school at a disadvantage? A new study of the connections between parenting, poverty and cognitive abilities in young children investigates – and suggests that high and persistent home stress may be a major factor.

Prevention and implementation research are often seen as an American discipline, but a recent conference showed that while a huge debt is owed to US scientists there is a growing and active community undertaking similar work across Europe. Prevention Action was at the 2nd Conference of the European Society for Prevention Research in Lisbon, Portugal.

A new follow-up study of young people who were formerly looked after in foster care suggests that despite the considerable risks they typically face, many achieve independence with few problems.

Severe domestic violence is not very likely to change with treatment. But violence between teenage partners – which tends to be milder and mutual – can be prevented or reduced with early intervention that targets both sexes, a new report claims. And with more than a third of U.S. high schoolers admitting they have been violent to a boyfriend or girlfriend, it’s an urgent issue.

Arousing the interest of individuals in tough neighbourhoods is less of a challenge than maintaining it. A teenage pregnancy prevention program in Chicago shows how ‘community coalitions’ can help overcome it.

A first randomized controlled trial of an online intervention to help young people to cope with the stresses and strains of romantic relationships suggests that the pain often needs to get worse before it gets better.

The Juvenile Alternative Prevention Initiative has been developed over two decades but how is it applied to policy and practice and where does it fit in with prevention science?

Successful prevention programs require able community co-ordinators. But what skills do these individuals need and can social work education train a new generation of prevention practitioners?

New forms of intermediary organization that help service providers train staff to deliver evidence-based programs effectively, and are willing to take the rap if targets aren’t met, look set to migrate beyond the boundaries of their US birthplace, as economies and public services around the world feel the same pinch.

Head teachers don’t know how to commission proven programs, program designers don’t know how to evaluate their own initiatives – and there has been far too little investment in remedying either problem. Little wonder, says a UK think tank, that some schools have been resorting to “bad science” in their efforts to rescue disaffected pupils.