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Dear Partners,
April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than 532,000 children in the U.S. were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect in 2024, though that number is likely higher due to underreporting. We know that when children are supported and protected, they are more likely to achieve positive health and life outcomes. Those healthy beginnings lay the foundation for strong families and communities.
Preventing and addressing child maltreatment requires coordinated efforts across families, communities, and systems. The Children’s Safety Network partners with states and jurisdictions to strengthen evidence-based prevention strategies and create safer environments for children and youth. We encourage you to explore CSN resources, including the Navigating Child Abuse Prevention Resources and Interventions webinar and the Child Maltreatment Prevention Resource Guide. In recognition of Safer Internet Day, we recently hosted a webinar on National Child Exploitation Prevention Programming to highlight resources to keep children safe online.
April is also Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury death for teens ages 15 to 19 in the United States, according to the CDC. Distracted driving is a significant contributor. Dialing a phone number while driving increases a teen’s risk of crashing by six times, and texting increases crash risk by 23 times, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Eating, adjusting the entertainment or navigation system, applying makeup, or interacting with passengers can also take attention away from the road and reduce a teen’s ability to respond to hazards or changing traffic conditions.
Teen driver safety remains a core focus of CSN’s work. Proven strategies such as strong graduated driver licensing systems, seat belt enforcement, and active parent or caregiver involvement can help reduce injuries and deaths and ensure more young people arrive safely at their destinations.
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