April 2, 2018
Contact: Joe Scialfa or Gina Paige ― 608-266-9000
Month of April brings call to action and awareness of
Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
(MADISON) – The trauma of child abuse and neglect can last a lifetime, impacting healthy brain development and behavior. To raise awareness about the effects of child abuse, Governor Walker has proclaimed the month of April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in Wisconsin. During this month, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) joins Governor Walker’s call for citizens to “Say Something, Do Something for Kids” by learning how to recognize the signs of maltreatment and working together to find solutions to the generational cycle of abuse and neglect.
Every year, nearly 700,000 children in the United States fall prey to the many forms of child maltreatment, which include neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and emotional abuse. In the month of April, and throughout the entire year, DCF urges individuals to learn how to spot the warning signs of maltreatment and to take action by reporting suspected abuse or neglect to a child welfare agency or local law enforcement.
“DCF staff and our county and tribal partners work tirelessly to ensure that children are safe and protected,” said DCF Secretary Eloise Anderson. “But, we can’t do it alone. We call on all Wisconsin’s communities to make a difference in a child’s life. Get involved, help your neighbors, and if you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, call your local child protection agency.”
Wisconsin’s child protective community will be helping to bring attention to the month with a “Wear Blue Day” on April 6, 2018. Wisconsinites are encouraged to “do something” by wearing a blue ribbon or blue clothing – the color of prevention to show support for the various child abuse prevention efforts taking place throughout the state. DCF will be bringing extra attention to the day by tweeting photos of people wearing blue for kids at #SaySomethingDoSomething.
Effective child abuse prevention programs succeed as a result of partnerships among citizens, social service agencies, schools, and community organizations, ranging from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, to county and tribal child welfare agencies, and hundreds of non-profit organizations who work to protect Wisconsin children every day.
Learn more about Child and Family Safety on the DCF website at www.dcf.wisconsin.gov or by following @WisDCF on Twitter.
