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Ten Things You Can Do for
Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month! The future of this
great country of ours rests on our children. While the vast
majority of parents have their kids’ best interest at heart,
there is a surprising, and frightening, number of parents
who do not. The reasons for abuse and neglect are many, but
as a society we owe it them and to ourselves to make an
effort to protect the kids in our midst. Below are some
ideas how you can do your part to keep the kids in your
community safe from child abuse.
Volunteer your time. Get involved with other parents in your
community. Help vulnerable children and their families.
Start a playgroup. Simple support for children and parents
can be the best way to prevent child abuse. After school
activities, parent education classes, mentoring programs,
and respite care are some of the many ways to keep children
safe from harm. Be a voice in support of these efforts in
your community.
Discipline your children thoughtfully. Never discipline your
child when you are upset.
Give yourself time to calm down. Remember that discipline is
a way to teach your child.
Use privileges to encourage good behavior and time-outs to
help your child regain control. Both words and actions can
inflict deep, lasting wounds. Use your actions to show
children and other adults that conflicts can be settled
without hitting or yelling.
Support prevention programs. Too often, intervention occurs
only after abuse is reported. Greater investments are needed
in programs that have been proven to stop the abuse before
it occurs--such as family counseling and home visits by
nurses who provide assistance for newborns and their
parents.
Know what child abuse is, and what the signs are. Physical
and sexual abuse clearly constitute maltreatment, but so
does neglect, or the failure of parents or other caregivers
to provide a child with needed food, clothing, and care.
Children can also be emotionally abused when they are
rejected, berated, or continuously isolated. Unexplained
injuries aren't the only signs of abuse-depression, fear of
a certain adult, difficulty trusting others or making
friends, sudden changes in eating or sleeping patterns,
inappropriate sexual behavior, poor hygiene, secrecy, and
hostility are often signs of family problems and may
indicate a child is being neglected or physically, sexually,
or emotionally abused.
Report abuse. If you witness a child being harmed or see
evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you about abuse, make
a report to your state's child protective services
department or local police. When talking to a child about
abuse, listen carefully, assure the child that he or she did
the right thing by telling an adult, and affirm that he or
she is not responsible for what happened.
Invest in kids. Encourage leaders in the community to be
supportive of children and families. Ask employers to
provide family-friendly work environments. Ask your local
and national lawmakers to support legislation to better
protect our children and to
improve their lives.
Write, visit, fax, phone, or e-mail your elected officials.
Request that your governor, state legislators, county
commissioners, and mayor proclaim the month of April as
Child Abuse Prevention Month and fly the Children's Memorial
Flag. Notify your U.S. Representative and Senators about
activities to memorialize children lost to violence.
Participate in ceremonies to memorialize children. Read the
names of children lost to violence in your state, hold a
candlelight vigil, or host an event at your state capital to
remember those children who were lost to violence.
Raise public awareness. Purchase a Children's Memorial Flag
and fly it on April 22nd, Children's Memorial Day.
Distribute information about Child Abuse Prevention Month
and the Children's Memorial Flag. Issue news releases,
photographs, public service announcements, and compelling
stories to the media, advocacy groups, parent-teacher
organizations, police stations, hospitals, community
centers, websites and special interest groups.
Support the Children's Memorial Flag Postage Stamp
Initiative. CWLA and Alameda County, California, are
submitting a proposal for the Children's Memorial Flag to be
commemorated on a U.S. postal stamp. Click to learn more.
Encourage neighbors, church, workplace, the media, and
business leaders to order the Children's Memorial Flag.
Mail: CWLA
PO Box 932831
Atlanta GA 31193-2831
Call: 800/407-6273 (toll free)
770/280-4164
Fax: 770/280-4160
Approximately three million children are reported as
maltreated to child welfare agencies around the country, and
of those, two million warrant investigation. We all have an
obligation to help protest kids. The children of today
represent the future of our society! For more information
about how you can help, check out the Child Welfare League
of America’s website at
www.cwla.org , or call 202-638-2952.
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