Help Prevent Child Abuse, Build a Hopeful Future
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From the Pike County Journal-Reporter
April is National Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month, a time when Prevent Child Abuse America and Prevent Child Georgia connect with families, communities, prevention advocates and supporters. They focus on the creation of an ecosystem of primary prevention in the U.S. and emphasize the importance of building a narrative of hope for the future of children and families.
The theme of this year’s awareness and impact campaign, locally led by Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, in alignment with PCA America’s national chapter network, is “Building A Hopeful Future, Together.”
“Children who live in families with access to economic and concrete support are less likely to experience abuse and neglect. And yet, too often our society thinks of raising healthy children as a parent or caregiver’s responsibility alone. This simply isn’t true. Community support and partnerships can help lighten the burden on families and strengthen communities from the ground up. Every family and child should have the access and support to live purposeful lives with hope for the future,” said PCA Georgia Executive Director Jennifer Stein. “In April, during CAP Month, we recognize the dedicated and passionate prevention teams, programs, and partners working year-round to create awareness about the public health issue of abuse and neglect. Every day, a connected network of prevention leaders, lived-experience experts, and a host of partners in prevention link arms to build evidence that supports advocacy for family-strengthening policies that can help lift the load for overburdened families. We hope that this month, our community will join us in applauding the progress we’ve made in prevention, but also become partners in the remaining critical work that families of Georgia need.”
Prevent Child Abuse America, in close partnership with its nationwide chapter network including PCA Georgia, supports the expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs and family resource centers to help families cope with trauma and stressors like the loss of employment, loss of income due to lack of paid leave, school and business closings, ongoing health concerns, uncertain childcare and homeschool arrangements, food insecurity, and more.
Today’s family resource centers (FRCs) are a key prevention strategy for addressing many of the challenges that face families, whether they live in rural, suburban, or urban areas. The goal of FRCs is healthy families in healthy communities. To improve outcomes for both families and communities, a family resource center brings together services and activities that educate, develop skills, and promote moving in new directions for families. This increases the capacity of families to be healthy, involved members of dynamic communities.
Pike County Family Connection meets from 9 to 10 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month. For more, contact Michael Powell at 770-295-9208 or michael@connectup.info.
“Prevention is hard work, but it is also heart work,” said Powell.
This month, and all year long, citizens can help PCA Georgia advance family-centered prevention programs and policies by taking action in the following ways.
Follow PCA Georgia on social media and share our posts throughout April. Encourage friends and family to do the same.
Use the hashtags #BuildingTogether, #PreventionInPartnership, and #CAPMonth to signify your commitment to helping children, families, and entire communities to thrive.
Plant a virtual pinwheel – a visual reminder of the world we want for all children to grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed.
Throughout the month, you can make a tax-deductible gift to PCA Georgia by visiting tinyurl.com/pcagive.
For more ways to get involved in CAP Month this April, go to tinyurl.com/CAPmonthGA.
Visit pcageorgia.org to learn more.
Read the story on pikecountygeorgia.com.
Contact:
Krystin Dean
GaFCP Communications Specialist
706-897-4711
krystin@gafamilyconstg.wpengine.com
Follow us on Twitter: @gafcpnews
Connect with us on Facebook.