Child Abuse Prevention Toolkit

Sample Proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month, April 2020

WHEREAS:          Children are critical to Georgia’s future success, prosperity, and quality of life.  While children are our most valuable resource, they are also our most vulnerable.  Children have a right to be safe and an opportunity to thrive, learn, and grow in an environment that fosters healthy development; and

 

WHEREAS:          Child abuse and neglect can be prevented by supporting and strengthening Georgia’s families, thus preventing the far-reaching effects of maltreatment and providing the opportunity for children to develop healthy, trusting family bonds, and consequently, building the foundations of communities; and

 

WHEREAS:         Effectively intervening in the lives of children threatened by abuse is a shared responsibility, and Georgia’s citizens must come together so that the voices of our children are heard by all.  We all must ensure that our communities are extending helping hands to children and families in need; and

 

WHEREAS:          Effective child abuse prevention strategies succeed because of partnerships created among citizens, human service agencies, schools, faith communities, health care providers, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community; and

 

WHEREAS:          By providing a safe and nurturing environment for our children, free of violence, abuse and neglect, we can ensure that Georgia’s children will grow to their full potential as the next generation of leaders, helping to secure the future of this state and nation; now

 

Therefore:             I, [Name of official], [official title], do hereby proclaim April 2020, as CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH in Georgia and urge families and communities to become involved in protecting Georgia’s children.

 

In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of

The Executive Department to be affixed this ______ in the year two thousand and twenty.

Governor’s Proclamation

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

For Immediate Release

Governor Kemp and <Insert Organization> Recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month in Georgia

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

CITY- <Insert Organization> is encouraging communities across the state to participate in activities to recognize the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. April was first proclaimed as Child Abuse Prevention Month nationally in 1983. Ever since then, state chapters of Prevent Child Abuse America, as well as other child welfare advocates have also commemorated April as Child Abuse Prevention Month at both the state and local level. Governor Kemp has continued this tradition to raise awareness for Georgia’s most vulnerable population by officially proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

This year <Insert Organization> and Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Georgia urges individuals and organizations across Georgia to join the discussion on ‘Nurturing Communities’ through three activities.

Spark a different conversation around your dinner table this spring by inviting your friends, neighbors, or colleagues over for a Civic Dinner to talk about ‘Nurturing Communities’. When you sign-up to host you will receive a guide asking three big questions to lead people into conversations around creating safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments for all children.

Raise awareness and show unity by wearing blue on Friday, April 5, Georgia’s “Wear Blue” Day. Join online by posting your office or organization wearing blue to social media and use the Twibbon Facebook filter that will be live across the nation throughout April, provided by Prevent Child Abuse America.

Finally, join the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign by planting the PCA Georgia blue pinwheel in front of your house or place of business. In April, over 15,000 pinwheels will be planted around the state that “serve as powerful visual reminders that we all play a role in ensuring happy and healthy childhoods for all children everywhere,” as stated by Julia Neighbors, Director of Prevent Child Abuse Georgia.

<Insert brief organization description and any APRIL plans>

 

To learn more about <insert organization> and Child Abuse Prevention Month activities around Georgia, visit <insert web address> and PCAGeorgia.org.

 

Date

 

Contact:

Name

Position, Title

Phone/ Email

Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Encourages People to ‘Do More of What You Love’ to Help Families this April, Child Abuse Prevention Month

(CITY, STATE)—[Organization] along with Prevent Child Abuse Georgia encourages people across the state to participate in this year’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing their talents and time to help create better, brighter futures for children and families. Even the smallest steps can make a big difference in a child’s life–and a parent’s as well.

Every day connections are more important than we ever believed. Science tells us that relationships have the power to shape our brains. Relationships help us learn better, work better, parent better. When we experience tough times, they help us heal. With each connection, we develop a healthier stronger community.

“Everyone wants to provide and nurture their child in a positive, healthy environment, but parents need a little extra support every now and then,” said Julia Neighbors, Director at Prevent Child Abuse Georgia. “That’s why we’re asking people to proactively engage parents in their local community and offer their support- whether it’s by making a meal for a family, reading to or tutoring a child, or just connecting a family with local resources.”

Suggestions from Prevent Child Abuse Georgia to help support parents and create great childhoods for children in your community while doing what you love include:

• Volunteer for an after-school mentoring program.
• Give a new mom a break by bringing over dinner or offering to babysit.
• Coach a youth sports team to teach kids the value of teamwork—they’ll learn how to trust teammates and themselves.
• Organize a Connections Matter training in your community to help every understand how they can make a difference in the life of a child. ConnectionsMatterGA.org
• Encourage families you know to call the 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373) Helpline to talk to trained professionals who will connect them with supportive programs in their area. You can search for support services online by local through the Georgia Resource Map, PCAGeorgiaHelpline.org.

We all share a responsibility for the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children and their families. [Insert Organization] and PCA Georgia encourages everyone in the state to do what they love this April and help ensure great childhoods in their community.

# # #

Pinwheels for Prevention® Gardens Demonstrate Support for Children and Families this April, Child Abuse Prevention Month

(CITY, STATE)—[Organization] will be at [LOCATION] on [DATE] to plant a Pinwheels for Prevention® garden and show support for children and families during National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Pinwheels connote happy, healthy childhoods and have become the national symbol of child abuse prevention. Advocates and volunteers across the state come together annually to plant pinwheel gardens in their communities, drawing attention to the need for effective programs and policies that ensure the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children and their families.

Each year over 15,000 pinwheels are planted in the state through Prevent Child Abuse Georgia’s Pinwheels for Prevention® Campaign. In addition to planting pinwheel gardens, people are encouraged to participate in positive, supportive activities throughout Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“Small steps can make a big difference in a child’s life,” explained Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Director, Julia Neighbors. “We want to help people understand that it’s possible to do the things they love— whether it’s by making a meal for a family, reading to or tutoring a child, or just connecting a family with local resources.”

In addition to planting pinwheel gardens, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia encourages everyone to help support parents and create great childhoods through the following actions.

• Volunteer for an after-school mentoring program.
• Give a new mom a break by bringing over dinner or offering to babysit.
• Coach a youth sports team to teach kids the value of teamwork—they’ll learn how to trust teammates and themselves.
• Organize a Connections Matter training in your community to help every understand how they can make a difference in the life of a child. ConnectionsMatterGA.org
• Encourage families you know to call the 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373) Helpline to talk to trained professionals who will connect them with supportive programs in their area.
• Go online to use the 1-800-CHILDREN Resource Map, PCAGeorgiaHelpline.org, which contains over 3,000 local and statewide programs designed to assist and support families.

[Insert your organizations information here]

# # #

Georgia Residents Urged to Wear Blue in Support of Children and Families this April, Child Abuse Prevention Month

(CITY, STATE)—Prevent Child Abuse Georgia and [Insert Organization] invite people across the state to wear blue on Friday, April 3, to show support for children and families during National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Georgia has recently updated the State’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan outlining prevention strategies that individuals, communities and organizations can participate in! Wear Blue Day is an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to collectively raise awareness for effective programs and policies that help children and families thrive.

“Small steps can make a big difference in a child’s life,” explained Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Director, Julia Neighbors. “We want to help people understand that it’s possible to do the things they love— whether it’s by making a meal for a family, reading to or tutoring a child, or just connecting a family with local resources.”

In addition to wearing blue, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia encourages everyone to help support parents and create great childhoods for children in your community while doing what you love such as:

• Volunteer for an after-school mentoring program.
• Give a new mom a break by bringing over dinner or offering to babysit.
• Coach a youth sports team to teach kids the value of teamwork—they’ll learn how to trust teammates and themselves.
• Organize a Connections Matter training in your community to help every understand how they can make a difference in the life of a child. ConnectionsMatterGA.org
• Encourage families you know to call the 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373) Helpline to talk to trained professionals who will connect them with supportive programs in their area. You can search for support services online by local through the Georgia Resource Map PCAGeorgiaHelpline.org.

[Insert short description of your organization here]

# # #

Sample-Long – Call to action focused

Letter to the editor, intended for publication

Your recent coverage of [APPLICABLE STORY IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER] reinforces that we all share a responsibility for the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children and their families in [Georgia or CITY]. And since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s the perfect time to help people understand that it’s possible to do the things they love and help families and their community thrive. Small steps can make a big difference in a child’s life–and a parent’s.

Everyone wants to provide and nurture their child in a positive, healthy environment, but sometimes parents need a little support along the way. That’s why we encourage community members to proactively engage parents and offer your support. Here are some suggestions:

• Volunteer for an after-school mentoring program.
• Give a new mom a break by bringing over dinner or offering to babysit.
• Coach a youth sports team to teach kids the value of teamwork—they’ll learn how to trust teammates and themselves.
• Encourage families you know to call the 1-800-CHILDREN (1-800-244-5373) Helpline to talk to trained professionals who will connect them with supportive programs in their area.
• Go online to use the 1-800-CHILDREN Resource Map, PCAGeorgiaHelpline.org, which contains over 3,000 local and statewide programs designed to assist and support families. See what services are available in the areas you live.

Collectively, these small steps will help create better, brighter futures for children and families in [STATE or CITY].

Sincerely,

[NAME, TITLE]

[ORGANIZATION]

Sample—Short (150 words)

Letter to the editor, intended for publication

Your recent coverage of [APPLICABLE STORY IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER] reinforces that we all share a responsibility for the well-being of children and their families in [STATE or CITY]. And since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, it’s the perfect time to help people understand that it’s possible to do the things they love and help families and their community thrive.

All parents want to provide and nurture their child in a positive, healthy environment, but sometimes they need a little extra support along the way. That’s why I encourage everyone to proactively engage parents in their community and offer your support—whether it’s by making a meal for the family or reading to a child. An easy way for professionals and caregivers to find supportive resources in their community is by calling 1-800-CHILDREN (244-5373), PCAGeorgiaHelpline.org.

Collectively, these small steps will help create better, brighter futures for children and families in [STATE or CITY].

Sincerely,

[NAME, TITLE]

[ORGANIZATION]