Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, but action should be taken year round to reduce and eliminate child abuse.

This month and throughout the year The Fierberg National Law Group and School Violence Law encourage all individuals and organizations to play a role in creating a better environment for children and families. Together we can help prevent child abuse and neglect by ensuring parents, teachers, and caregivers have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for and protect children.

The United States has one of the worst child abuse records among industrialized nations- losing on average between four and seven children every day to abuse and neglect. One in 10 children will be sexually abused before the reach the age 18. Child sexual abuse survivors are three to four times more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, and twice as likely to drop out of school, have a teenage pregnancy, and suffer from serious and long-term mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, among other physical and emotional problems.

Approximately 80 percent of these tragedies happen in isolated, one-on-one situations. But we can eliminate or reduce that dramatically by implementing new ways to safeguard our children. Youth organizations should have a clear code of conduct for staff and volunteers that is shared with parents and children, and background checks, including speaking directly to references, are imperative. Teachers, coaches and clergy should have open-door meetings with children.

As adults, we are all responsible for ensuring the safety of our children. We can do our best to arm children with child abuse prevention training, but ultimately this endeavor lies directly with us. We can learn to become more vigilant at prevention and speak to our children honestly and openly about our bodies, sex and boundaries.