April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Broward County’s Children’s Services Council, in conjunction with Prevent Child Abuse Florida, reminds you that we all have a role in promoting healthy child development, supporting families, and preventing child abuse and play neglect.

Everyone wants to care and nurture children in positive, healthy environments, and this is the perfect time to understand that simple actions can have a huge impact on the thriving of children and families. It only takes a positive, caring adult to build resilience and make a lasting positive impact on a child’s life. You don’t need any special skills or resources to help. You just have to be willing to reach out for a helping hand.

Unwanted childhood experiences, including child abuse and neglect, can have serious and costly consequences for children, families, and society at large. The risk for our nation’s children of experiencing child abuse and neglect in times of extreme stress and insecurity is quite high.

COVID-19 has put additional stress on the lives of parents and carers, such as job loss, loss of income due to lack of paid vacation, school and business closings that require new childcare and homeschool regulations, and food insecurity. The social connections and community services and activities that act as safeguards against child abuse and neglect may not exist during this unusual time.

Research shows that parents and carers who have support systems in place and know how to seek help during difficult times are more resilient and can provide safer environments and caring experiences for their children. It is important that individuals, businesses, schools, and community organizations give children the highest priority and take action to support the physical, social, emotional, and educational development and competence of all children.

April is also the final month of the annual Broward AWARE! Protect Our Children Campaign, a four month series of free events designed to strengthen families and ensure the community is informed about programs and resources that can help prevent child abuse and neglect. The blue windmills symbolize the windmills for prevention campaign and represent the great childhoods that all children deserve and the prevention efforts that help them do so

Please remember, if you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, Florida law requires you to report it to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873). Visit preparechildabusefl.org for more information.

Via the Broward County Children’s Council

Broward County’s Children’s Services Council is an independent tax authority that was established by public referendum on September 5, 2000 and reauthorized on November 4, 2014. authorized the council to collect up to 0.5 million property taxes. The Council’s role is to provide the leadership, advocacy and resources needed to improve children’s lives and empower them to become responsible, productive adults by jointly planning and funding a continuum of quality care becomes. To learn more about programs and services funded by the Children’s Services Council, please call (954) 377-1000 or visit cscbroward.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.