April has been designated Child Abuse Prevention Month since 1983
Child Abuse Prevention Month is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness and preventing child abuse. President Jimmy Carter designated the first Child Abuse Prevention observance in the United States. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan formally established April as the Child Abuse Prevention Month. President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation in 2016 stating that “During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we re-commit to giving every child a chance to succeed and to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment that is free from abuse and neglect.
The Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the agency charged with supporting communities in providing programs and services to protect children and strengthen families. It states that for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, communities should re-dedicate themselves to being supportive of families, and play an active role in preventing child abuse and neglect as well as taking positive action to promote child and family well-being.
It has been reported by the Children’s Bureau that in the United States, approximately 646,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect and another 1,500 children died from abuse or neglect in one year. The majority of child abuse cases result from conditions that can be prevented through community programs, systems, support, and interventions.
The Child Abuse Prevention Initiative is an opportunity for communities across the country to keep children safe, provide the support families need to stay together, and raise children and youth to be happy, secure, and stable adults. During the month of April, there will be many visual reminders to call awareness to this issue in our community such as blue ribbons and blue pinwheels. There are several events scheduled throughout our circuit during the month of April.
Friday, April 4th is Wear Blue Day in support of Child Abuse Prevention.
