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Looking for a Child Abuse Prevention Guide? Here it is!
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Be a HERO in the Eyes
of a Child
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. First observed in 1983 through a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan, this month and throughout the year, we are encouraged to help make our community a better place for children and families.
In 2018, approximately 4.3 million reports were made nationally to child protective services concerning the safety and well-being of 7.8 million children. Last year, the U.S. estimated 678,000 [1] children were found to be victims of child abuse or neglect, and in Ohio over 19,800 [2] confirmed cases were reported. Locally, 42% of the 7,580 calls made to the Stark County Children Services Report Line in 2019 required assistance or intervention.
Research shows that protective factors are present in healthy families. Protective factors are conditions or attributes of individuals, families, communities or the larger society that mitigate risk and promote healthy development and wellbeing. Some of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect are:
- Nurturing and attachment
- Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development
- Parental resilience
- Social connections
- Concrete supports for parents
- Social and emotional competence of children
As we undergo this time of uncertainty, many families across Ohio are under immense stress and are at risk of child abuse. By promoting protective factors, we can ensure that parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to care for their children.
If you are concerned that a child is abused or neglected, please call 330-455-KIDS (5437) or 1-800-233-KIDS (5437) and ask to speak with a referral specialist. These numbers are open 24/7 and 365 days a year.
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