April is: Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month

April is such a neat month here at Family Builders. April is the national Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, and underlines the purpose of all that we do here at Family Builders. Preventing child abuse and neglect, while prohibiting and negating all types of family violence is our mission and the basis for all of the core values that we uphold.

Being aware that child abuse does indeed happen in your town, your community, and sometimes in the homes of people that you know and love, can be very powerful in helping to prevent that abuse. April is a month about promoting this awareness so that the community and individuals can prevent it or stop the abuse from ever occurring in the first place.

Here in Oklahoma City, the annual CAP Day at the Capitol, hosted by Smart Start OKC,is being held tomorrow, April 3rd, at the Oklahoma City Capitol building. This event is held each year to help encourage community involvement and seek out legislators, in order to encourage them to continue to make a difference in the lives of Oklahoma children. The event is the official kick off for the month of April and Child Abuse Prevention Awareness. The national color of the month is blue, so be sure to wear some blue tomorrow, April 3rd. Here are a few links for more info on CAP Day at the Capitol
http://www.smartstartok.org/blog/cap-day-capital
http://www.ok.gov/health/Child_and_Family_Health/Family_Support_and_Prevention_Service/Office_of_Child_Abuse_Prevention/Child_Abuse_Prevention_Awareness/
http://www.okdhs.org/library/news/rel/2012/03/cfsd03292012.htm

Even though April is the "official" month of child abuse prevention awareness, it is important to remember that these cruelties to children happen 365 days a year, every day, everywhere - not just in April. Educate yourself and others about these tragedies and do your part to report and recognize the signs of child abuse, in your own children and in others'.

Be aware that child abuse and neglect IS currently happening. This abuse spans every demographic, geographic area, and occurs in various shapes and forms. Make your communities, your work places, your churches, your social clubs, and your children all aware that child abuse and neglect is occurring all around them. Education of these horrors can help to prevent them. Help us to protect Oklahoma children, by knowing the facts and the signs of child abuse.

www.familybuildersok.org

Hug those kids tight and protect them always! Have a great week and wear blue all month long!