As April comes to a close, the prevention efforts that we discussed throughout the 2015 Child Abuse Prevention Month don’t have to end. There are many things we can do beyond the month of April—as caregivers and community members—to ensure families feel supported and children are safe from abuse and neglect. We know child abuse can occur in any home, regardless of neighborhood or annual income. We also know there are things we can do [...]

Parenting is hard and does not come with an instruction manual specific to each individual child. We know that caregivers don’t usually want to hurt their child, but the stress of parenting can sometimes result in abuse. Yet certain factors, known as protective factors, can diminish the risks of child abuse and neglect when established in a family. Parental Resilience A parent who can bounce back from challenges has a better chance of dealing with [...]

It’s the time of year where the weather is beginning to warm up and we start looking forward to all of our favorite summer activities. Even though kids will still be in school for a few more weeks, it is also the time where we begin to make plans for summer camps and child care. As a child I had the opportunity to attend local camps for sports and music. I have many positive memories [...]