10 Mar Overview of Child Abuse Prevention Month 2022

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, an important time to remember that everyone has a role to play in keeping communities safe for kids to grow and thrive. According to findings within the latest national Child Maltreatment Report, Kentucky no longer has the highest child victimization rate in the nation. Among all 50 states, Kentucky now has the 5th highest rate of child maltreatment as opposed to its number 1 spot in 2019. While this trend is noteworthy, there are many factors that influence these numbers and it is important to continue identifying risk factors and promoting policies and programs that will boost Kentucky’s efforts to protect its children and support its families.

The Face It Movement, an initiative founded and funded by Kosair Charities, directly addresses the unacceptable incidences of child abuse and neglect in Kentucky by promoting best practices in child abuse prevention and intervention, building awareness and engaging the community, and advocating for effective policies to improve the child welfare system.

During the month of April, Face It will be hosting a series of events and trainings, sharing free resources for parents, caregivers, community members, and professionals, promoting child safety tips and family engagement ideas, and more! See below for a schedule of events and other happenings throughout the month, and take these steps during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Week of March 28 – Kick-Off

Monday, March 28 at 12:00 PM EST: Kick-Off to Child Abuse Prevention Month with Kosair Charities Face It Movement (watch via Facebook Live)

Week of April 4 – Setting Appropriate Expectations for You and Your Family

During this week and throughout the month of April, Face It is partnering with organizations across the state to host a series of positive parenting events. During these events, parents will have the opportunity to connect with one another, learn about child developmental stages and interactive ways to connect with their children, and more. 

Kids don’t come with instruction manuals. Parenting is tough, and caring for a child is one of the most important jobs an adult can do. This includes keeping children safe from harm. The more prepared we feel as we raise children, the more we are able to handle upsets and surprise. Below are links to resources that parents and caregivers may find helpful based on a child’s ages and stages of development. 

• Caring for Babies
• Caring for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• Caring for School-Age Children
• Caring for Teens

Week of April 11 – Knowing the Signs of Abuse and Neglect

Tuesday, April 12 at 10:00 AM EST: Courageous Conversations Panel Discussion

Join us for a virtual panel conversation about reporting child abuse and neglect in Kentucky. Relationship building with caregivers is an effective tool for crisis prevention, but how and when do mandated reporters talk to families first? The discussion will focus on the components of reporting: when to engage, how to help navigate supports, and when reporting may still be necessary if you have concerns about child safety. Details and registration here.

Resources on recognizing and reporting the signs of abuse and neglect:

• The TEN-4 Bruising Rule is an easy-to-remember tool that outlines suspicious bruising on young children, especially on babies four months or younger, that is not normal and should be reported to Child Protective Services. Learn more about the TEN-4 Bruising Rule and ways you can keep kids safe here.
• View and download the online toolkit for health professionals, featuring resources on preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect. Thank you to Delta Dental of Kentucky for their support of this project. 
• Check out the Report It webpage for information on reporting child maltreatment in Kentucky and surrounding states.

Face It is hosting a closed Support Over Silence for KIDS training for partners around teaching bystanders to confidently diffuse challenging situations between caregivers and their children. Learn more about the Support Over Silence for KIDS bystander training program and view resources for bystanders here.

Week of April 18 – Practicing Mindfulness and Self-Care

Face It is partnering with the Bounce Coalition and Family Scholar House to host a self-care and mindfulness workshop for parents and caregivers this week. During this interactive session, participants will learn to recognize the signs of stress, understand the value of a holistic, whole-being model of self-care, practice self-care and mindfulness activities, and create a plan to build positive self-care habits.

Tips for Practicing Self-Care 

Whether you are a parent, full time caregiver, or in the helping profession, you understand the challenge of balancing “me-time” with the time required for others. Have you wondered what “self-care” really is and how to practically implement it? We’ve heard a lot about the importance of taking care of oneself—physically, mentally, and emotionally. We also have heard that self-care is often more than a spa day or a walk in the park – though that may be just what someone needs to destress. The important note: self-care looks different for everyone, and all of us need to take care of ourselves. Try out these 6 tips to get into the habit of caring for yourself when you are also responsible for caring for others.

Week of April 25 – Celebrating, Healing, and Looking Ahead

Thursday, April 28 at 12:00 PM EST: Survivor’s Healing Journey

Join Face It and Family & Children’s Place as we hold virtual space for survivors of child abuse during Child Abuse Prevention Month. We know that healing looks different for everyone and the journey is not necessarily linear. We will hear from survivor’s about their healing journey and ways to both individually and as a community support survivors of abuse. Details and registration here.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram throughout the month for safety tips, event highlights, parenting inspiration, and more!