April is a special time at Upbring. You might be asking yourself, “why?”
It’s simple—every April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It’s an opportunity to spread awareness and emphasize the importance of partnering with friends like you around the community to break the cycle of child abuse by empowering children, families and communities.
Now more than ever, it is crucial to take the necessary steps to ensure that all children are safe, loved and cherished. Here are four ways you can get involved in child abuse prevention, with resources included, so you can show your support year-round.
1. Spread Awareness
Change happens when we advocate for those who need it most. Cases of child abuse and neglect rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to researchers. By bringing attention to these situations and informing others of their impact, together, we can advocate for change.
Help raise awareness in your community, during April and all year long, by sharing a message about child abuse prevention on your personal social media account.
2. Speak Up
Knowing the signs of child abuse and neglect makes it possible for you to share the information with others and recognize situations of abuse in your community. Use the information you’ve learned to help make an informed decision about when to contact local authorities.
By speaking up, you can make a difference in the lives of children who would otherwise have no one on their side. If you suspect that a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, contact the Texas Abuse Hotline or call toll-free 24/7 at 1-800-252-5400.
3. Donate
The number of children and families that need our help is rising every day and your generous gift today will ensure we can meet that demand and increase awareness of child abuse prevention. What’s more, when you give to Upbring, you invest in the well-being of thousands across the state of Texas.
Choose which program you want your gift to support by using our online donation form. We also now accept cryptocurrency thanks to our partnership with The Giving Block. Both options are 100% tax-deductible.
4. Make the Most of Your Time Together
Spending extra time with your children strengthens your family and promotes child and family well-being, which is one of the most important ways to counter the cycle of abuse. For example, turn Friday nights into a family movie night! Order pizza, rent a movie and build a blanket fort that you can all crawl in to watch together. Encourage other families to do the same by sharing your ideas with friends!
With the help of the resources mentioned above and the Child Welfare Information Gateway’s Prevention Resource Guide you can learn more about child abuse prevention. The more we talk about the reality of abuse and neglect and study the resources available to us, the more we will learn. Being informed will help us better recognize the signs of abuse and neglect so we can change the lives of those suffering around us.
At Upbring, we strive to make sure that every child knows they are loved and important. By choosing to get involved and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, you are joining us on our mission to break the cycle of child abuse.