APRIL TO FOCUS ON CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION EFFORTS, WEAR BLUE ON APRIL 10TH
Columbus, Nebraska- A statewide partnership that includes Columbus Area United Way (CAUW), Community and Family Partnership (CFP) and Bring Up Nebraska is working to color our communities blue in April. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and these groups are hoping to raise awareness on the importance of community-based support for all children and families.
As part of these prevention efforts, the community is urged to wear blue on Friday, April 10th to show support for child abuse prevention month. Gather your co-workers, friends, and family to post your BLUE photo to social media with the hashtag #WEARBLUECFP. The council will determine their favorites and award plaques to those chosen. This is a terrific opportunity to show your support for child abuse prevention.
Another important piece of child abuse prevention month is the community-wide distribution of blue pinwheels in our four-county area of Platte, Colfax, Boone, and Nance. According to preventchildabuse.org, the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign began in 2008 and “symbolizes childlike lightheadedness and a vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.” When you see a blue pinwheel in April, think of hope, hope for our community families and children to thrive.
Abbi Shanle with Faith Regional Health Services Child Advocacy Center shares the importance of focusing on prevention. “Child Abuse Awareness Month reminds us that protecting children is a shared responsibility. Awareness is the first step toward prevention, and when adults know the signs of abuse and speak up, we create safer communities. At the Faith Regional Child Advocacy Center, we work to ensure children are believed, supported, and given a path toward healing—because recovery is possible.”
Engaged and supportive citizens and communities within Nebraska have the power to prevent many of the situations and conditions where child abuse and neglect occur. Child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making sure each family has the knowledge, resources, skills and support they need to provide a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment for all of Nebraska’s children.
Susie Jarecki, Executive Director for CASA Connection states, “The old adage, “kids are resilient” means children often have a strong ability to adapt and recover—but that resilience depends heavily on the support and environment around them. If the violence and negativity is repeated for years without support, the trauma could last a lifetime, and prevent, what should have been, a very productive life.”
Effective child abuse prevention activities succeed when families are supported before there is a need to call child protective service. Positive change and impact occur when a community is willing to listen and act on the wisdom and lessons that those with personal experience are willing to share and teach. These efforts also succeed because of partnerships created among state, regional and local health, and social service agencies, as well as those in the community including faith and medical communities, schools, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business sector.
Lisa Rosendahl, Outreach Coordinator for CASA Connection adds, “I see how powerful awareness can be in protecting children. When communities learn the signs of abuse and neglect and understand how to support families, they become part of the solution. Child Abuse Prevention starts with paying attention, speaking up, and creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and valued. Every child deserves a community that looks out for them.”
When you see blue pinwheels, jars, shirts, or signs in April, remember that it takes every person in our community to help prevent child abuse, one small action at a time.