Nevertheless, recent research indicates that existing child services are not necessarily designed to meet the needs of minority youth and that there are racial disparities in service availability and utilization [39]. Thus, broader support by community agencies and voluntary organizations are needed to reduce these disparities. In addition, social programs should target children who are at risk for long-term health problems due to early exposure to distressed family environments. Finally, social policies should focus on alleviating the structural conditions (e.g., poverty, single parenting) that contribute to childhood maltreatment.
