April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

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April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month in the United States, and the Cooperative Extension Welcome Baby Program is honoring this important time by having several of our families plant pinwheels for prevention in the beautiful gardens outside our offices at 721 Foster Street, Durham, NC 27701.

 

Child Abuse Prevention Month was established in 1983 to encourage communities to unite in their efforts to prevent child maltreatment. Studies have shown that 20-25% of children in the U.S. are at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction, making this month a crucial opportunity to raise awareness and take action.

 

The first significant federal legislation aimed at addressing child abuse and neglect was the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), originally enacted on January 31, 1974. The law has undergone several amendments, with the most recent update on January 7, 2019, through the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-424).

The Welcome Baby Program is proud to play a vital role in preventing child abuse in Durham, NC. We offer a range of parenting workshops designed to strengthen the bond between parents/guardians and their children. Our education efforts serve as a critical preventive measure for families at high risk of abuse or neglect.

 

Parent education has evolved significantly over the years, with many programs now being evidence-informed or evidence-based. This means that research has shown these programs can effectively reduce the likelihood of child abuse.

 

At Welcome Baby, we offer a variety of parenting education workshops to support families in fostering healthy, positive relationships with their children. Programs such as The Incredible Years BASIC, Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) Levels 3 and 4, Motheread/Fatheread, and Nurturing Fathers are not only geared toward preventing child abuse but also enhancing parenting skills for families who wish to strengthen their abilities in areas like social and emotional development, language skills, turn-taking, and school readiness. These workshops offer valuable tools for parents/guardians at all stages of their parenting journey.

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Please click on each parenting program for a more information.

Written by Patience Mushipe-Mukelabai