Intentional Injury Prevention

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Little girl hiding her face against a wall

In Public Health there is a clear distinction between “unintentional” and “intentional” injuries. An unintentional injury is one that is not caused by a person’s intent to harm. An intentional injury, also known as “violence”, can be defined as the use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that results in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development, or deprivation (World Health Organization, 2009). Intentional injuries include, but are not limited to, child abuse, suicide, homicide, assaults, and bullying. The problem distinguishing between “intentional” and “unintentional injuries” lies in the complexity of assessing the “intent” involved in an injury event. A common example of this can be found in cases of child neglect that result in injuries.

California’s Child Health and Safety Fund, which funds the Kids’ Plates Unintentional Injury Prevention Program, also supports child abuse prevention. Twenty-five percent of the funds generated from the sale of Kids' Plates license plates, is allocated to county level children's trust funds. These funds support child abuse prevention services at the community level and provide public education, training, and technical assistance.

For more information on child abuse prevention, please visit: