April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

   April is National Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month, a time when Prevent Child Abuse America and the Jones County Family Council connect with families, communities, prevention advocates, and supporters to focus on the creation of an ecosystem of primary prevention in the U.S. and emphasize the importance of building a narrative of hope for the future of children and families. The theme of this year’s awareness and impact campaign, led by Prevent Child Abuse America and its national network of state chapters, is “Building A Hopeful Future, Together.”

   Children who live in families with access to economic and concrete support are less likely to experience abuse and neglect. And yet, too often our society thinks of raising healthy children as a parent or caregiver’s responsibility alone. This simply isn’t true. Community support and partnerships can help lighten the burden on families and strengthen communities from the ground up.

   “Every family and child should have the access and support to live purposeful lives with hope for the future,” said Heather Weers, Jones County Community Partnerships for Protecting Children (CPPC) and Family Council coordinator. “In April, during Child Abuse Prevention Month, we recognize the dedicated and passionate prevention teams, programs, partners working year-round to create awareness about the public health issue of abuse and neglect. Every day, a connected network of prevention leaders, lived experience experts and a host of partners in prevention link arms to build evidence that supports advocacy for family-strengthening policies that can help lift the load for overburdened families.

   “The work of love is never done,” continued Weers. “And our work is rooted in both aspiration and evidence with a goal of providing help and hope before crisis occurs. We hope that this month, our community will join us in applauding the progress we’ve made in prevention, but also to become partners in the remaining critical work that families of Iowa need.”

   Prevent Child Abuse America, in close partnership with its nationwide chapter network including Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, support the expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs, such as Healthy Families America, to help families cope with trauma and stressors like the loss of employment, loss of income due to lack of paid leave, school and business closings, ongoing health concerns, uncertain child care and homeschool arrangements, food insecurity, and more.

   “Home visiting provides the glue that can help families stick together as they navigate the questions and concerns that often overwhelm parents during pregnancy and the first few years of their child’s life,” explained Kathleen Strader, National director, Healthy Families America and chief program officer at Prevent Child Abuse America. “Each day is an opportunity to build the foundation for all children and families to live a purposeful and happy life with hope for the future.”

   “During this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month, we are on a mission to change the way our society values and cares for our children and families to address the structural and social determinants of health and wellbeing, including poverty and systemic racism,” shared Dr. Melissa Merrick, president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. “In partnership, we can disrupt long-held beliefs about prevention systems and expand family-friendly policies, like paid sick and family leave, to help reduce stress on our parents and caregivers. Prevention is hard work, but it is also heart work.”

   This month, and all year long, you can help Prevent Child Abuse America advance family-centered prevention programs and policies by taking action in the following ways:

   • During April, CPPC and the Family Council invites community members to get involved by wearing blue on April 11 for Jones County Blue Out Day to promote Child Abuse Awareness Month.

   • Participate in Prevent Child Abuse America’s nationwide digital advocacy day on April 16. Contact your member of Congress to advocate for increased investments in Title II, Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention grants, of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to provide states and communities with the resources to implement community-based solutions to the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

   • Follow Prevent Child Abuse Iowa on social media and share our posts throughout April. Encourage friends and family to do the same. Use the hashtags #BuildingTogether, #PreventionInPartnership, and #CAPMonth to signify your commitment to helping children, families, and entire communities to thrive.

   • Plant a virtual pinwheel – a visual reminder of the world we want for all children to grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed. You can contribute to your local chapter with this effort. All donations are tax-deductible, and funds go directly to your local state chapter to support local children and families.

   • Community members can take action for child abuse prevention year-round by joining our board and helping strengthen community relations. You have the power to help every child you interact with each day! Be the ONE!