Child Abuse Prevention Month

A group of people pose for a picture. They are holding children's books.

Champions for Children announces the April 1 launch of its annual Light the Way Child Abuse Prevention Month Campaign. The campaign will include the blue lighting of several Tampa Bay area locations on April 10th.  

During April, CFC will focus on raising awareness of both child abuse and neglect and the impact of its prevention work in the Tampa Bay area. 

On April 10th, the Tampa Bay area will “wear blue” to show support for preventing child abuse and neglect. The City of Tampa will light key locations to include Curtis Hixon Park, Riverwalk, Kennedy Blvd Bridge, City Center at Hanna, and the Sulphur Springs Tower from April 10th at 7:30 p.m. to April 11th at 7:30 a.m. Additional participating locations include the Downtown Tampa Truist Building, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, USF Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation, Shutts and Bowen and Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.  

The Light the Way campaign kicks off on April 1st and will feature various events and activities throughout the month. These include a community-wide call to “wear blue” on April 10th in honor of child abuse prevention and CFC’s Light the Way Soiree on April 30th. 

“We are committed to building strong families. We believe that when children develop to their highest potential, we all benefit from better economic, civic, and health outcomes. The light we shine on the path toward prevention is stronger when we come together.”  Dr. Amy Haile is the CEO of CFC. 

Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties are among the highest in Florida for the most reported and confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect. The Department of Children and Families reports that in these counties, a daily average of 88 hotline calls are made to report cases of child abuse and neglect.  

Champions for Children is dedicated to changing this statistic by working with families to build positive attachments, confidence and resilience.   

Nikki Daniels, LCSW, is the associate director of CFC and provides leadership for all of CFC service programs.  

She says, “All of our work at Champions is informed by the best evidence so we can be sure that we are making a positive difference. One of those evidence-based foundational concepts is the ‘Science of HOPE.’ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), such as abuse, neglect and family dysfunction during childhood can lead to negative outcomes such as mental and physical health issues. The science also tells us that Positive Childhood Experiences (PCES) can mediate the impact of the ACES, so CFC promotes those experiences through our programming for families. As a certified Science of HOPE trainer, I am committed to providing these supports for the families we serve.”