Visit the National Child Abuse Prevention Month website
Ten things you can do to help prevent child abuse
- Learn about child abuse and child abuse prevention and create a congregational protection policy.
- Be a nurturing parent and caregiver – En español
- Help children to make a list of trusted adults they should talk to about any concerns they might have, and instruct them to persist in telling until they find someone who listens and takes action.
- Offer to help overwhelmed parents. Let them know it’s OK to ask for help. Develop a list of people in the congregation who are willing to be called to help with childcare in case of emergency. Have a designated bulletin board where parents and grandparents can share resources with each other (public library story times, school break and vacation day camps, church camp programs, helpful books titles, web resources and workshops on parenting, abuse prevention, etc.)
- In your church library, designate a shelf for parenting resources, and books and board games encouraging fun family. Provide picture books for children about breaking the silence of abuse; suggested:
- Catie the Caterpillar, by Tracy Shamburg,LPC
- The Right Touch, by Sandy Kleven, LCSW
- Some Secrets Should Never be Kept, by Jayneen Sanders.
- Get involved. Volunteer with Children’s Disaster Services or other programs that support families.
- Invite local people working on child abuse and neglect prevention to speak at an adult Sunday school class, or host a community forum to raise awareness about the issue.
- Discuss together “Recommendations for Positive Action Related to Conditions of Childhood.” (Other denominational statements related to child protection are found on the Child Protection page.)
- If you are abused or suspect abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
Child abuse and child abuse prevention web resources
www.faithtrustinstitute.org/ – faith-based resources
www.preventchildabuse.org/
www.childwelfare.gov/