April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, dedicated to recognizing the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect.
According to the Alaska Office of Children’s Services, more than 3,000 cases of child abuse and neglect have been reported statewide in the past 12 months.
- Parental resilience
- Social connections
- Knowledge of parenting and child development
- Concrete support in times of need
- Social and emotional competence of children
Through this Strengthening Families model (see sidebar) families receive guidance in building their family strengths in an environment that promotes optimal child development.
There are many ways to build on these protective factors. For example, parents can build social connections by joining a parent group, or practice parental resilience by taking quiet time to re-energize.
Working together, we can all increase the well-being of children and families in Alaska.
To learn more about Strengthening Families, check out these websites: