April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Wednesday, April 19 is Prevent Child Abuse America’s Digital Advocacy Day — a powerful day for raising awareness and advocating for change in our communities and across the nation. This Digital Advocacy Day we join partners across North Carolina, and the nation, in advocating for Title II, Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grants, of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).
CBCAP grants can be used to provide supports to ensure prevention through voluntary evidence-based home visiting services, community-based parent support or parenting education programs, early childhood and childcare programs, and family resource centers.
All of these programs, including family support (home visiting and parenting education) programs, are crucial in helping to build protective factors and improve child and family well-being. That’s why Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina is proud to be a part of North Carolina’s Home Visiting and Parenting Education (HVPE) System.
The NC HVPE system’s vision is that all families have access to a range of parenting education supports, from the prenatal period to age 8, within a coordinated delivery system. Creating and maintaining a statewide system of family support programs will help reduce the overload of stress on families and nurture positive childhoods – ultimately building a stronger future for us all.
Join us in raising awareness for family support programs and advocating for increased investments in CBCAP Grants on Digital Advocacy Day! Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Contact your elected officials: Use Prevent Child Abuse America’s easy (pre-written email) form to contact your legislators and urge them to support increased investments in Title II, Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grants, of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to communities and families. Learn more here.
- Share your story or the stories of others who have benefited from Home Visiting and Parenting Education programs. Share your story as a participant of a family support program or a practitioner.
- Share on social media using hashtags: Use social media and #CAPMonth #DigitalAdvocacyDay to share statistics and research on the importance of CBCAP grants for communities in preventing child abuse and neglect. Download the Child Abuse Prevention Month Toolkit and the Family Support Awareness Month Communications Toolkit for pre-written posts, talking points and more.
By advocating for communities, children and families on Digital Advocacy Day, we can help nurture positive childhoods across North Carolina and beyond. Let’s use this opportunity to raise our voices, connect with others, and create positive change!