Strengthen Families First
Child abuse prevention doesn’t begin when something goes wrong—it begins when families are supported before they reach a breaking point. Most families who encounter the child welfare system are navigating isolation, overwhelming stress, and unmet needs; without support, small challenges can become crises. Prevention is proactive and relational—meeting needs early with practical help, steady presence, and a community that shows up. It looks like a bed delivered before a child sleeps on the floor, diapers provided before impossible choices are made, and caregivers equipped to respond with calm and stability. When we strengthen families, we reduce the need for foster care and help children grow up safe, seen, and securely connected.
Adverse Impacts
1 in 4
girls in the US will be sexually abused by the age of 18
1.5 M
children experience abuse in America each year
90%
of children who experience abuse know their abuser
Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of children are identified as victims of abuse each year, but many more cases go unseen due to fear, shame, or lack of disclosure (National Children’s Alliance). Research shows that one in four girls and one in twenty boys will experience sexual abuse before adulthood, most often by someone within their circle of trust (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). With only a fraction of children ever speaking up, abuse often continues undetected without community awareness and intervention (Pennsylvania Child Advocacy Center).
Abuse often remains hidden, allowing harm to continue without intervention while its effects deepen over time (World Health Organization). Children who experience abuse face significantly higher risks of depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal ideation, with impacts that can carry into adulthood (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). These experiences can also disrupt brain development and a child’s ability to form trust, regulate emotions, and build healthy relationships, increasing the likelihood of future victimization or instability (National Children’s Alliance).
Prevention is possible when children are surrounded by safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. Research consistently shows that early intervention and supportive environments can reduce risk and interrupt cycles of abuse before they continue into the next generation (Johns Hopkins University). Even one consistent, caring adult can make a lasting difference in a child’s life, helping them heal, grow, and experience the safety every child deserves. And the best place in any community for this? Community-based organizations and churches.
Here's Where You Come In
Block Party
Host a Block Party in your neighborhood or at your church. Games, giveaways, and fun. Invite community resource providers to have a table and connect with families.
Diaper Drive
Nearly half of all families with children in diapers are struggling to afford them, making the decision nightly between food and safe diaper hygiene. Providing diapers is pressure release valve for families in crisis.
Parent Night
Giving caregivers an opportunity to work or go to the doctor or simply take a nap can go a long way for parents stretched beyond the margins.
We were ready to quit. To close our home. Disrupt our adoption. This training was a lifeline. We tell every family we can, "You need trauma training. It's a must."
Susan | Parent
