{"id":2113,"date":"2025-04-15T07:25:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T14:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/?p=2113"},"modified":"2025-04-15T07:28:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T14:28:11","slug":"national-child-abuse-prevention-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpthrivingfamilies.org\/pediatricsblog\/national-child-abuse-prevention-month\/","title":{"rendered":"National Child Abuse Prevention Month"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"National

Image by Julie Foss<\/p><\/div>\n

As parents, we do everything possible to keep our kids safe \u2013 using car seats, keeping up with vaccinations, having them wear helmets, and more.<\/p>\n

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month \u2013 a reminder to us all, doctors and parents alike, to focus our attention on keeping our kids safe from the dangers of abuse and neglect.<\/h3>\n

The National Children’s Alliance<\/a> states that “Child abuse is a horrific experience with potentially lasting effects. It\u2019s also, unfortunately, a common experience in America and around the world.”<\/p>\n

In 2023, more than 500,000 children in the US experienced abuse<\/a> or neglect, while more than 1,900 children died from abuse and neglect.\u00a0The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the U.S will experience\u00a0child sexual abuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The World Health Organization defines child abuse as:<\/p>\n

\u201cAll forms of physical and\/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child\u2019s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Abuse of any form has lasting consequences for a child. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)<\/a>\u2013 including exposure to or witnessed violence, physical, emotional, sexual abuse, harsh parenting, abandonment, emotional or physical neglect \u2013 affect the developing brain of a child in ways that increase their risk of negative health outcomes. ACEs make it more likely that the child will suffer from an altered immune system, asthma, be obese as a teen or adult, have physical and psychiatric health challenges, including heart disease, cancer, depression, eating disorders, suicidality, and substance abuse.<\/p>\n

Given the health effects of ACEs, child mistreatment in all of its forms is worth our focus.<\/h3>\n

\u201cWe must all join in the work of uplifting and safeguarding our youngest individuals and ensuring they are limited by nothing but the size of their dreams and the range of their aspirations. This month, let us aim to eradicate child abuse from our society, and let us secure a future for our children that is bright and full of hope, opportunity, and security.\u201d\u00a0<\/i>Presidential Proclamation \u2014 National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n

We all want to keep our kids safe this month and every month. We have many posts on this blog that will help parents do just that, here are a few:<\/p>\n

Posts about abuse prevention:<\/p>\n