Child abuse prevention isn't a topic I ever planned to write about. My sincere hope is that no one reading this ever needs the information herein, but sadly, I know better. I'll preface this by saying I'm not an expert in child abuse prevention. My training is in positive parenting, which by nature, is the opposite of this very topic.
What I'd like to do, however, is list some of the resources that parents and caregivers might need, especially now while we're all practicing social distancing. Stress levels are substantially higher than usual for most of us. Still, children are children--and they're counting on us to keep them safe. As Dr. Vanessa Lapointe wrote, "we're their best bet."
My purpose in sharing this here is twofold: to empower adults who have no known connection to child abuse or abusers to educate others--and to offer resources to those who might need them directly.
If you need to prevent or stop child abuse immediately, these organizations can help keep children safe when they're in danger. At this time, to the best of my knowledge, these phone numbers and hotlines are unique to the U.S. If you're outside the U.S., please find a comparable resource in your area and comment below so I can add their information here.
There are many other child abuse organizations at your disposal. Oftentimes, you need look no farther than your own city for a local resource. Call 9-1-1- if you're experiencing an emergency. CPS is also an option (numbers vary by state).
Below is a modified synopsis of five of the suggestions that may be more pertinent during particularly stressful times:
Day-to-day support and encouragement go a long way towards child abuse prevention. This is a list of positive parenting resources that I trust and would encourage others to follow. Many of them suggest ways families can simply function more peacefully. A home that feels peaceful for parents and kids alike is less likely to be a volatile space.
In the interest of time, I'm sharing only their Facebook pages for now, but will revise this with additional information for each resource I can locate. Why so many? Because I want parents and care givers to have access to as many helpful resources as they need until they find the ones that resonate best with them. Note that I alphabetized these people and organizations by FIRST name since those are often the most memorable. I've intended no offense by removing professional titles.
If I'm missing any you think I should add, please comment below and I'll revise this as appropriate. I'll share only credentialed groups or individuals and/or ones I personally follow and believe are solid resources for positive parenting.
I welcome suggestions for other tips you'd like me to include here. Together, let's make the world safer for its kids. They're counting on us.
Again, I am not credentialed when it comes to child abuse prevention, but there are many resources available to help you. Getting help is a strong and brave thing to do--please call on them if need be.
Sarah R. Moore is an internationally published writer and the founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting. You can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. She’s currently worldschooling her family. Her glass is half full.
