Prevention is Possible

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the April 2025 issue.

Working to end child abuse

First observed by presidential proclamation in 1983, Child Abuse Prevention Month has been raising awareness about this serious societal issue every April for the past four decades. And it’s a problem that is clearly not going away.

“Child abuse and neglect continues to impact far too many families, and the long-term effects can be devastating for children, families, and communities,” explains Tarra Winters, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. “However, we know that early intervention and prevention can make a difference in reducing these harmful experiences.”

This month, Winters says, highlights a message that she admits may not always be easy or comfortable for people to hear but that cannot be tuned out. While significant strides have been made in preventing child abuse and neglect in Illinois and across the country, there is still much work to be done to ensure every child grows up in a safe and nurturing environment.

“Child Abuse Prevention Month is important because it raises awareness about child abuse and neglect, educates the public on identifying the signs and effects, promotes effective prevention efforts, and encourages people to get involved,” she says. Everyone has a part to play in the fight against child abuse. And Winters hopes this month will inspire people to focus on things like:

• The shared responsibility of safeguarding the well-being of every child. This includes the importance of learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect and to react and report accordingly. Non-life-threatening and nonemergency instances of abuse and neglect in Illinois can be reported using the Online Reporting System at childabuse.illinois.gov, while abuse or neglect that requires more immediate action should be directed to the Illinois Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 800-252-2873.

• Prevention is key. Winters says the best way to keep children safe and happy is to provide families with a full range of early supports they need to prevent child abuse and neglect from happening in the first place. “Family members, friends, and other trusted adults can make a difference by creating safe, stable, and supportive relationships and environments with the children in their lives,” she explains. “These positive connections and environments can help protect children from adverse childhood experiences and, in turn, help create environments where children feel connected and supported by their peers, community, and adults in their lives.”

• The importance of building protective factors that strengthen families and keep children safe. The focus here, according to Winters, is on simple actions such as ensuring families have the resources they need when they need them, helping families build and maintain strong social connections, and helping parents learn to be resilient so they have the ability to deal with challenges. “We can all help create a culture where every child grows up in a safe, supportive, and loving environment,” she says. “But it requires ongoing commitment, compassion, and a shared understanding that preventing child abuse and neglect is not only a responsibility, but a collective effort that involves us all. We all have a role to play in building bright and safe futures for children.”

Local Resources

CASA of DuPage County
dupagecasa.org

KidsMatter
kidsmatter2us.org

The Exchange Club of the Tri-Cities
tcexchange.org/prevention-of-child-abuse

Illustrations: iStock