April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

What if there was a community vaccine for child abuse? Lane County would want it.

A recent study by the Center for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect of Lane County residents showed that 98 percent of residents believe that all adults have a responsibility to prevent child abuse

But we’re not clear how to do it. Forty-four percent of those same residents weren’t sure what the community could do to reduce abuse and neglect. 

That vaccine is primary prevention and this is where 90by30 in West Lane County comes in.  In 2011, more than 225 community members gathered at a forum to ask one question:

How do we stop child abuse?

Participants realized that interventions and supports were necessary to create livable communities, but were not sufficient to prevent abuse. 90by30 was born of that and is working to get at the root causes of child abuse and neglect.

To affect change, we need an engaged community, proven and effective strategies and a “public health” approach to prevention.

By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to care for their children — and by making meaningful connections with children, youth and families in our communities — we can help prevent child abuse and neglect. By joining in with the 90by30 campaign of “Play Your Part,” we can each find our place to make that difference and be part of the “vaccine” against child abuse and neglect.

The local regional leadership team of 90by30 determined several prevention strategies to implement in our community to “play our part” to reduce abuse and neglect. The strategies chosen for 2018-19 are:

• Welcome Baby Box,
• Roots of Empathy
• Healthy Families — Home Visitation
• Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAPM).

During the month of April, pinwheels will be displayed throughout our communities to raise awareness of this important effort. The month of April culminates with “Turn your Weekend Blue,” which is three days to celebrate children, families and community.

Friday, April 27, will be the day to make a visible commitment to prevent child abuse by wearing blue. On Saturday, April 28, take a road trip to discover all of the county’s pinwheel gardens. 

Lane County pinwheel locations and family activities can be found at www. 90by30.com or at www.getinvolvedlane county.org.

The public is invited to come and learn about prevention strategies being implemented in West Lane, enjoy refreshments and participate in fun activities for the whole family at a Child Abuse Prevention Open House on Sunday, April 29, at the Siuslaw Public Library from 2 to 4 p.m. 

Also on Sunday, or on whatever day a faith tradition celebrates, local faith communities will be participating in Blue Sunday — a traditional day of prayer for an end to child abuse that offers a chance for us to speak with one voice in favor healthy, nurtured kids.

West Lane Community Foundation, the Florence Rotary Club and several individuals have contributed funding to help support these efforts.

Please join us — because everyone has a part to play in keeping our children safe.

For more information, visit www.90by30.com.