Prevention of Child Abuse

Child abuse and trauma have significant and lasting effects on individuals, impacting their physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being.
Child abuse can include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, and neglect.

  • Trauma is a natural response to experiencing such events, and it can lead to both short-term and long-term psychological consequences. 

  • Trauma can manifest as behavioral issues like aggression, difficulty with school, substance abuse, and social withdrawal.

  • Children who have experienced trauma may struggle with learning and have difficulty concentrating, which can affect their academic performance

How can we prevent child abuse and trauma?

  • Focus on creating safe, stable, and nurturing environments for children, supporting families, and educating communities about the signs and consequences of abuse.

  • Provide resources and support to families such as financial assistance, quality childcare, family-friendly workplace policies. This type of support can help with day-to-day stressors.

  • Provide parent education. Parenting classes, workshops and support groups help parents help parents create the nurturing and safe environments children (and parents!) need.

  • Provide education to children. Teaching children about their rights and their bodies is critical to identifying potential abuse and educating on the importance of reporting abuse.

  • Raising public awareness about the signs of abuse and neglect, the importance of reporting, and the resources available can help create a culture of prevention.

  • Community involvement. Engaging community members, including schools, libraries, and faith-based organizations, in prevention efforts can create a wider network of support for children and families

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

View a full list of events here.

To register for events, please click the actual event and follow the instructions.

Additional Resources

Prevent Child Abuse America-https://preventchildabuse.org/

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana-https://pcain.org/

Prevent Child Abuse SJC -https://www.pcasjc.org/