New Research on Policy and Practice to Protect Children and Promote Resilience
We are pleased to share a newly published perspective article that explores the role of positive spirituality in preventing child maltreatment and strengthening resilience across the individual and multigenerational life course. Developed through a deeply collaborative, multi-year effort, this work brings together insights from public health, child protection services, education, and faith-based practices.
As contributing author Xiaoan Li, Senior Program Officer at the Fetzer Institute, reflected: “This work has been a deeply collaborative journey… and I am grateful for the collective wisdom and spirit that made it possible.”
Why This Research Matters
Despite growing global attention to violence prevention, the role of “Positive spirituality” — defined as “the quest for meaning, purpose, and transcendence” — often remains at the margins of conversations about advancements in policy and practice. This article helps bridge that understanding.
Published in Frontiers in Public Health, “The Role of Positive Spirituality in Preventing Child Maltreatment and Promoting Resilience” synthesizes global evidence showing how nurturing spiritual values, such as empathy, emotional regulation, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills, can act as protective and rehabilitative factors for children, families, and communities.
Drawing on public health frameworks and real-world policy examples, the article outlines actionable strategies for:
- Policymakers seeking more holistic violence-prevention approaches
- Practitioners working in child protection, education, family, and health systems
- Faith and community leaders supporting positive caregiving environments for children
Together, these perspectives point toward a more integrated, spiritually-informed approach to successfully breaking intergenerational cycles of violence and promoting children’s well-being worldwide.
“Fostering spiritual values and capacities is not only a means of
preventing violence against children and upholding their rights but
also a vital foundation for building societies rooted in peace, empathy,
and shared responsibility.”
Read the Full Article
The full article was published by the Frontiers in Public Health journal and is available as an open-access PDF. Click here to download.