April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month |

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

27 04 2009

According to childwelfare.gov, child abuse and neglect are defined by Federal and State laws.

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act [CAPTA] is the federal legislation that gives minimum standards that states have to incorporate in their statutory definitions of child abuse and neglect. Its definition refers to:

“Any recent act or failure to act on the parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents and imminent risk of serious harm.” [more definitions on child abuse can be found at childwelfare.gov]

So if you don’t have any kids, you may be wondering what you can do to help. I found ways we can prevent child abuse on the Prevent Child Abuse America website:

Be a friend to a parent you know. You can do this by asking how their children are doing; if a parent seems like their struggling, you can offer to run errands, babysit or just listen to them vent.

Be a friend to a child you know. Learn their names, smile when you talk to them, ask about their lives and just generally show interest in them.

Talk to your neighbors about looking out for the other children. Try to get everyone involved and show that you are involved as well.

Give used clothing, furniture and toys to other families who may need them. This may help relieve their finanical burdens that parents sometimes take out on their kids.