April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Families Need a Fresh Start – You Can Help!

At Champions for Children, we are excited as we enter the month of April because it’s Child Abuse Prevention Month! During this month, we join the national efforts to spread awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention. 

Did you know that Hillsborough County consistently ranks first in the state of Florida for the most reported and confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect? That’s a lot of cases! Yet, Champions for Children is the only organization in our county – and one of just a few in the state – to focus exclusively on preventing abuse and neglect before they even begin. Children who experience abuse, neglect, and other Adverse Childhood Experience (or “ACEs”) can suffer from lifelong negative impacts on their mental, physical, and economic well-being. The ongoing pandemic has only increased the risk of these traumas. 

Throughout this national awareness month, we are hosting a campaign to raise funds and bring awareness to the Tampa Bay area about child abuse and neglect. We’ll be sharing powerful personal stories from families, information about child abuse and neglect in our community, tips for parents, and ways you as a community member can make a difference! 

Here are some ways to get involved:

1. Join us for our virtual event, “Good Beginnings Last a Lifetime: A Journey with Champions for Children, Honoring Liz Kennedy” on April 29th at 6pm. Donations of $50 or more automatically register you for the virtual event. 
2. Follow the campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and help spread awareness by sharing our posts!
3. Give today to help families get a fresh start! Your donation will help keep our community’s children safe and our families strong during this difficult time. 

We all have the power to keep children safe in our community. By building awareness about child abuse and neglect and the knowledge to stand up against it, we can create a safer community for all children.