Preventing Child Abuse

Every child deserves a happy, healthy, and loving environment to grow up in.  Together we can protect children from abuse and neglect and lead each child into a brighter future.  There are simple things that can be done to bring awareness to the issue of child abuse and to teach prevention with hopes that one day it will no longer be a problem.

I invite you to use the ideas in this guide to help raise awareness about child abuse – protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.

• Bring attention to child abuse prevention with shirts bearing an important message.  See how many people in your school or organization you can get to wear these shirts and as an incentive ask local companies to get involved by extending discounts to those people wearing shirts.

• Include local houses of worship in your child abuse awareness efforts by setting up an informative “Kids’ Corner” booth in their atrium and entryway.  Display information for youngsters as well as parents to take with them as they go.  These might include “Good Touch Bad Touch” activity books and “Warning Signs of Child Abuse” pocket pals.

• Organize a fundraiser at your school to raise money for a local organization that is committed to the protection of children.  Allow employees who donate to the cause to wear jeans at work one day and give all those who make a donation above the minimum rate an awareness bracelet.  Such an event will help raise awareness for child abuse prevention and the money raised will make a real difference in the lives of children who need it most.

• Host an awareness event at your local library.  Invite law enforcement agents to speak to students about recognizing, preventing, and reporting abuse.  After youngsters have been told how to report abuse, have them act out skits where they must make the right decisions about what to do in a situation where abuse is occurring.  Provide information for parents and kids to take home.  They may include informative slide-guides for parents and educational activity books for kids.

Tags: Awareness, Child Abuse, Prevention

Category: Community Wellness