As practitioners have expanded their understanding of the types of events that constitute trauma exposure, the epidemiological database on prevalence suggests that childhood exposure to violence may best be framed as a public health crisis. There seems to be little recognition from policymakers and legislators, however, that violence may be the poison that is altering the course of childhood for many children, at considerable cost to taxpayers and society. With a wealth of new discoveries at their disposal, and the translational challenges realized, practitioners' vision was to create a gathering of scientists and clinicians willing to grapple with the mysteries of the brain and human behavior, explore strategies to predict and prevent maltreatment and violence against children, and break down disciplinary silos to strengthen discovery and address the real-world problems faced by clinicians in the field. This vision was entrepreneurial in nature and, as such, was informed by the contemporary business principles of clustering and synergy. Bringing multiple disciplines together to harness the synergy of the cluster is one of the guiding principles of the Center for the Study of Violence Against Children (CSVAC). Clustering is the essential premise behind the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, a strategically designed web of centers of excellence in child trauma that use collaboration to facilitate innovation and synergistic power. The articles in this special issue highlight innovations and challenges in the field of violence against children, and were designed to stimulate discussion among the multidisciplinary group of scientists and practitioners.