The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is joining other states and organizations across the nation for Child Abuse Prevention Month to acknowledge the powerful work that parents, primary caregivers, and community members do every day to help children succeed.
DCYF is participating in the month-long nationwide awareness and impact campaign: “Growing a Better Tomorrow for All Children, Together.” In support of these efforts, Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Washington State.
“Washington families have faced immeasurable stressors and hardships this past year, and we honor each and every one of you for your strength, resilience, and perseverance,” Inslee said. “Parents and caregivers across the state are supporting their children and families in exceptional ways through this pandemic. Communities stepped up and stood together to support one another.”
To raise awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention, DCYF’s Strengthening Families Washington team is participating in the Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign – distributing nearly 15,000 pinwheels across the state to symbolize the joy of childhood and that every child deserves a happy, healthy upbringing.
“Our goal as an agency is to get upstream of child abuse, rather than just responding to it,” said DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter. “There are huge barriers between marginalized families and the services they need, and our prevention work is aimed at removing those barriers.”
The theme of this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign is centered on reminding us that children are locally grown, and we harvest what we sow. Planting seeds of support for all children yields healthier adults with abundant futures.
DCYF recommends the following ways to help raise awareness and impact positive change virtually during this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month:
- Follow DCYF on Facebook, share our posts widely, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Use the hashtags #GrowingBetterTogether and #CAPMonth to let us know you're committed to helping children, families, and entire communities to flourish.
- Show support for children and families by participating in Wear Blue Day on April 1, posting a picture or video of yourself on your favorite social media channel(s), and including the #WearBlueDay2021 hashtag.
- Download DCYF’s Child Abuse Prevention Month coloring page, Strengthening Families Coloring Book, or the Strengthening Families Activity Packet to create positive interactions with the children and families in your life.
- Email dcyf.strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov for Pinwheel for Prevention stickers, temporary tattoos, posters, and garden seed packets.
- Review ways you can prevent child abuse.
- Be vigilant of safety threats and other signs of child abuse and neglect.
- Keep your local intake number on hand to report abuse or neglect.