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April 2016Vol. 17, No. 2April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Every April, the Children's Bureau observes National Child Abuse Prevention Month to encourage public awareness of child abuse and neglect, recommit efforts and resources aimed at protecting children and strengthening families, and promote community involvement through activities that support the cause. The theme of this year's Prevention Month initiative, "Building Community, Building Hope," also mirrors the theme of the 20th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, which will be hosted by the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN) from August 31 to September 2, 2016, in Washington, DC.

The updated 2016 Prevention Resource Guide: Building Community, Building Hope, developed through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau, OCAN, Child Welfare Information Gateway, and the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, is intended to support child welfare service providers in their work with parents, caregivers, and their children to strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment.

The 2016 Prevention Resource Guide has been updated with new information while maintaining much of the content structure of past guides. New features this year include the following:

  • The 2016 Prevention Resource Guide has been refreshed with a new name, theme, and design.
  • Chapter 2, "Working With Families Using the Protective Factors," contains two new vignettes to help providers put the protective factors into practice, examples of how States are implementing protective factors in their programs, and questions to explore with parents.
  • Chapter 3, "Using Protective Factors as a Framework for Your Community Partnership," continues to provide information on how to successfully work with community partners, including new tips for working with immigrant/refugee families.
  • Chapter 4, "Protecting Children," contains updated child maltreatment statistics as well as information on how to work with parents who have a history of trauma; how to support new Americans, as well as immigrant and refugee families; and information on human trafficking of children.
  • Chapter 5, "Tip Sheets for Parents and Caregivers," contains two new tip sheets—in English and Spanish—that can be distributed to parents and caregivers: "Building Resilience in Children and Youth" and "Parenting After Domestic Violence."

The information and resources available in the Prevention Guide can be used year round to help professionals and families prevent maltreatment and work toward child and family well-being. For more information on National Child Abuse Prevention Month, or to view or order a copy of the 2016 Prevention Resource Guide, visit the Prevention Month website at https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/preventionmonth/.

The 2016 Prevention Resource Guide and the activity calendars are also available on the Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect section of the Child Welfare Information Gateway website at https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/preventing/.

 

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