Each April, awareness is given to children who need to be protected during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Here are some ways you can participate and help raise awareness.

About Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month is a national awareness and prevention month that occurs annually each April and has been working to save child lives since 1983.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently collected data from the Children’s Bureau at HHS Administration for Children depicting the saddening amount of kids who were mistreated in 2018. Out of 3,534,000 suspected cases of abuse, 678,000 indeed fell prey to maltreatment through neglect, physical, or sexual abuse.

Unfortunately, this vast number does not even account for all of the cases that go unnoticed every day.

With recent effects of the global pandemic forcing countless families into quarantine, the urgency to promote awareness for abused children is at an all time high. Here are a few things you can do to ensure the safety of children nationwide.

Wear Blue for Child Abuse Prevention

On April 3, you can show your support by wearing blue and posting a picture on social media with the hashtag #WearBlueDay.

Know the Signs of Abuse

Many signs of child abuse are easily detectable through emotional changes in behavior while others are more subtle and tricky to unravel. There is a common list of emotional behavioral signs to look out for including:

• Sudden change in eating or sleeping habits
• Loss of interest in things that once brought joy such as playing with friends
• Fear and anxiety towards a certain person or certain group of people such as men
• Elevated knowledge of sexual acts or performance of sexual behaviors
• Regression into prior negative behaviors or bad self esteem

See the Signs of Abuse

Many signs of neglect and physical abuse are evident on the skin and physical traits of a child. The signs can be seen through observing children at play, grooming them, or even while they sleep. Some signs to visually look out for are:

• Frequent headaches or stomach pains
• Whips, bruises, unexplained marks on surfaces of the body
• Urination issues and soiling of undergarments
• Patterned welts that resemble objects such as belts
• Sunken eyes, constant pain from hunger or thirst

Respond to the Abuse

There are many hotlines and websites you can contact to report any suspected abuse. A few are:

• Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
• Darkness to Light: https://www.d2l.org

Contact an Experienced Child Abuse Attorney

If you believe that your child has been the victim of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, contact Thomas J. Henry. For over two decades, Thomas J. Henry has been an advocate for physical abuse victims across the state of Texas. Our experienced child injury lawyers are available 24/7, nights and weekends to take your call. Contact us today for a free case review.