This April, pinwheels are an ever-present reminder to support Child Abuse Prevention Month.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and FPG is joining Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina (PCANC) in promoting safe, stable, nurturing environments and relationships that children need to thrive.

“North Carolinians are already involved in activities that prevent child abuse and neglect. They just don’t realize it,” said Sharon Hirsch, PCANC's president and CEO. “We are working to educate the public about how they are already helping to prevent child abuse, as well as offering some positive ideas about how we all can help children and families thrive.”

A Prevent Child Abuse America study revealed that only 27% of Americans report that they are engaged in prevention. However, that same study showed that 80% of Americans reported donating goods, money or time to an organization supporting children and families, and 70% reported volunteering to work with children through places of worship, schools, and sports or academic clubs. In addition, 56% provided mentorship to a child in their family, neighborhood, or community.

Will Aldridge, director of FPG's North Carolina Implementation Capacity for Triple P project, said his group and PCANC are working together with the state on implementing the Triple P--Positive Parenting Program, which reduces child abuse and neglect.

"The NCIC-TP project is a collaborative effort to help counties successfully and sustainably implement Triple P's evidence-based system of interventions," Aldridge explained. He said FPG's partners on the project include The Duke Endowment, as well as the Division of Public Health and Division of Social Services in the NC Department of Health and Human Services. NCIC-TP also works in close collaboration with Triple P America and Triple P coalitions across North Carolina, and is supported by the National Prevention Science Coalition.

“North Carolina spends $2 billion annually in downstream costs, in social services, medical costs, juvenile justice, education, foster care, and more,” said Hirsch. “We know that when we invest upstream in programs that are built on science, we can strengthen families and help reduce child abuse and neglect.”

An online PCANC tip sheet suggests several simple ways to get involved this month:

·  Smile at the dad whose children are being loud and compliment his family.

·  Give another parent the night off by offering to babysit.

·  Volunteer to staff an after-school program.

·  Mentor a new parent by offering to be someone they can reach out to if they ever need help or someone to talk to.

·  Advocate for policies, in the legislature and in your workplace, that support children and families.

·  Encourage local school personnel, coaches, caregivers, or volunteers who work with children to take Prevent Child Abuse NC’s free, online Recognizing & Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment course.

·  Donate time to organizations that support children by offering to be a free tutor or getting involved with a mentorship program.

·  Donate money to organizations that fight for children and families.

PCANC also is spreading awareness through a drive to place the symbol of child abuse prevention—the pinwheel—in as many different locations as possible.

Access the free Recognizing & Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment course.

Read more, order pinwheels, and participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Read more about FPG's North Carolina Implementation Capacity for Triple P project.