April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Established in 1983, April has been nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Children’s Trust Fund of Michigan has used this special time each year to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse in all its’ forms. Child abuse is a major problem in our state and in our nation. In 2019, 33,060 children were abused and neglected in the State of Michigan. It is estimated that 63 of Michigan’s children died from child abuse and neglect during that year. As a Local Council for Michigan’s Children’s Trust Fund, the Welcome Newborns program of Delta County is committed to the well-being of our families and children that we serve. Even in the best of times, parenting is hard, and during a crisis, parenting can be completely overwhelming.

This month and throughout the year, the Welcome Newborns Program and Early Childhood Council of Delta County encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Delta County a better place for families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help prevent child abuse and neglect by strengthening families and communities. Research shows that five important factors are present in healthy families. Promoting these factors are among the most effective ways to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. They are:

– Nurturing and attachment

-Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development

– Parental resilience

– Social connections

– Concrete supports for parents

“April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children,” said Julie Moberg, director of the Community Action Agency. “Everyone’s participation is critical. Focusing on ways to promote the five protective factors, in every interaction with families, is the best thing our community can do to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. “If you suspect a case of child abuse or neglect in the State of Michigan, call the Michigan Child Abuse Hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-855-444-3911.