Throughout the year, communities are encouraged to increase awareness of child abuse. The month of April stresses the importance of prevention through raising awareness, providing education and streamlining means of support.
It’s no surprise that National Child Abuse Prevention Month continuously pops up year after year, as its origination in 1983 unmasked the startling statistic of youth being mistreated. Each year has a designated theme, and 2022’s campaign is “Everyday, we help positive childhood experiences take root.”
The garden metaphor reinforces the message of a child’s need to grow; seeds of support should be planted, and the soil needs to be tended through positive experiences.
There are signs that can indicate that a child is in an abusive situation. A few noticeable characteristics of child abuse include changes in the child’s behavior, an apparent lack of supervision, frequent absences from school or a sudden loss of self-confidence. Others can be found here.
Seek help from the community if you suspect any child neglect or trauma. Knowing who to turn to, whether it’s a trusted elder, family healer or social worker, is essential in quickly intervening. Finding a local community center whose mission is preventing child abuse and healing from it is another great option. Two organizations spearheading efforts in Indigenous communities are the National Native Children’s Trauma Center and the Indian Country Child Trauma Center. Both programs work to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect, while providing culturally-appropriate trauma informed resources and services to those that have experienced it.
Many of you may fall into the category of mandatory reporter. This means you are obligated to report signs of child neglect and abuse. Be sure to check mandatory reporter requirements in your location.
By addressing child abuse, educating ourselves of the signs and increasing our awareness of services, we can do our part in ending the statistic altogether. For additional tips and to learn how you can plant seeds of a better tomorrow for children and families in your community, visit preventchildabuse.org.
