April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every 10 seconds in the US, a child abuse report is made, and on average, we lose five children’s lives each day to child abuse. Child abuse includes neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Experiences of child abuse impact children’s health outcomes and wellbeing throughout their lives. Children with multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), like child abuse, have a lower life expectancy and are at greater risk for mental health disorders and chronic illnesses.
How can you help?
- Spread awareness on social media
- Educate family and friends
- Donate to organizations that provide child abuse services, like Family and Children’s Center
- Wear a blue ribbon or the color blue in solidarity
- Become a foster parent
- Report suspected child abuse
- Attend “Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children” training
The best way to protect children from child abuse is to report it when you suspect it is occurring. You can make a report with Winona County at 507- 457-6500 or cpreports@co.winona.mn.us. All reports are confidential. To educate yourself on the signs of child abuse, check out Family and Children’s Center’s article.
Training Opportunities:
In April, Vanessa Southworth, the Community Wellbeing Director at Live Well Winona, will be providing two training opportunities on child sexual abuse prevention. The Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children (D2L) training is an award winning, two-hour training for adults to learn how to reduce instances of child sexual abuse. The training discusses how to prevent child sexual abuse, recognize the signs, react responsibly, minimize opportunity with safe environments, and talk openly with children. The training is evidence-informed and approved nationally as continuing education for nurses, dentists, social workers, and dental hygienists. Training is open to public, but you must email vanessa.southworth@livewellwinona.org to register for the events. Once you are trained in Stewards of Children, there are opportunities for other learning modules. Below are the training opportunities in the month of April
