April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Ed. note: This was originally published on the HHS Blog.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize that we all can play an important role in making meaningful connections with children and families in our communities. Since 1983, the Children's Bureau has been a stalwart in its efforts to promote National Child Abuse Prevention Month. National, State, and local organizations look to the Children's Bureau to lead the way in the promotion of child abuse prevention.

To assist the Children's Bureau's Office of Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) in its efforts to promote National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Child Welfare Information Gateway, a service of the Children's Bureau, offers a series of prevention-related resources for professionals, advocates, service providers, and families. The 2015 Prevention Resource Guide: Making Meaningful Connections is developed annually in collaboration with the Children's Bureau, OCAN, FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, Child Welfare Information Gateway, and a host of National Child Abuse Prevention Partners. This Resource Guide offers many strategies to support service providers and communities in their efforts to prevent child abuse and promote well-being. The primary focus of the Resource Guide centers on protective factors that strengthen families and promote optimal child and youth development. Agencies, policymakers, advocates, service providers, and parents will find resources to help promote these important elements within their communities and families.

In addition to the 2015 Prevention Resource Guide: Making Meaningful Connections, Child Welfare Information Gateway has launched the 2015 National Child Abuse Prevention Month website, providing:

• Current publications, research statistics, and connections to the latest prevention resources Tip sheets to address particular parenting concerns or questions—in English and Spanish—to distribute to parents and caregivers
• Three activity calendars relating to the six protective factors, available in English and Spanish
• A video gallery highlighting nationwide child abuse prevention programs
• A media toolkit with sample messages to promote National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• Widgets for posting on websites and link to the 2015 National Child Abuse Prevention Month website

This year, Information Gateway added the Protective Factors in Practice learning tool, two interactive scenarios that illustrate how multiple protective factors can support and strengthen families experiencing stress.

Visit the National Child Abuse Prevention Month website to learn more!