Everyone in Jefferson County plays a role in preventing child abuse and neglect. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and recognizes the importance of individuals and communities working together to keep kids safe and families healthy.
There are ways everyone can get involved to help a child, even those individuals who aren’t raising a child or working with children every day. Proven ways for adults to help kids grow and maintain strong families are:
•Being strong in the face of stress. Resilience is managing stress and dealing with your life even when things get difficult.
• Nurturing caring friendships. Having a network of friends and family to help us feel secure, confident and empowered.
• Growing knowledge of parenting and child development. There’s no perfect family, but knowing what to expect makes the job easier.
• Asking for support when needed. Some problems are too big to solve alone. Knowing where to get help in the community can make life less stressful.
• Helping children manage feelings and relationships. Help children develop skills so they can manage their emotions and build healthy relationships.
Jefferson County Human Services is working with many organizations across the community and the state to prevent child abuse and neglect. Several events are upcoming and include Dine with Lil’ Ricci’s and creation of Pinwheel Gardens. Watch for information on the Human Services webpage – www.jeffco.us/Human-Services for event activities and information.
The Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness Campaign is a multi-year initiative to promote the statewide child abuse and neglect reporting hotline, 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437).