Recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Child Abuse Prevention Month 2023
Every season is a new opportunity to build sturdy foundations for North Carolina’s children and to nurture positive childhoods across the state. North Carolina’s future prosperity requires the healthy development of our children. We know that caring connections, strong foundations, and positive experiences matter when it comes to developing healthy brains and building thriving communities. Healthy brain development allows children to reach their full potential and benefits all of us. That’s why all adults have a stake in preparing North Carolina’s children to grow up to be healthy thriving members of our communities.
When we work together to nurture positive childhoods and create equal opportunities for every child in every corner of North Carolina, we can remove the heaviest loads from weighing families and entire communities down – ultimately building a stronger future for us all. We invite you to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month this April to nurture positive childhoods! Because prevention happens in partnership!
The statewide 2023 Child Abuse Prevention Month theme is: Nurturing Positive Childhoods Together: Prevention in Partnership
Order Pinwheels
To place an order for Pinwheels for Prevention, please fill out the 2023 Pinwheel Order Form. We will submit all form submissions to the national pinwheel vendor who will ship your order directly to you and will be in touch with you in the days after you submit your order to collect payment.
If you have a question about the process or your order, please contact PCANC Community Relations Manager LouMecia Staton at lstaton@preventchildabusenc.org.
Events and Activities
- Friday, March 31 – Wear Blue Day
- To participate, wear blue and share photos with the hashtags: #WearBlueDay2023 & #BeAConnection.
- April 1-7 – Week of the Young Child
- Week of the Young Child is a week hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children is dedicated to celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities.
- Pinwheel Planting – April 3
- Join NC DHHS and Prevent Child Abuse NC for a Press Conference and Pinwheel Planting at the NC State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Refreshments will be served. The public and media is invited to attend.
- WHEN: 11:00am-12:00pm
- WHERE: 1201 Agriculture St. – Raleigh, North Carolina 27603. The event will take place in the grassy area near the Farmer’s Market sign on the corner of Centennial Parkway and Lake Wheeler Rd. Free parking is available in the main Farmer’s Market lot.
- SPEAKERS: NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley; Lisa Cauley, Senior Director of Human Services in the DSS; and Sharon Hirsch, President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse NC
- Join NC DHHS and Prevent Child Abuse NC for a Press Conference and Pinwheel Planting at the NC State Farmers Market in Raleigh. Refreshments will be served. The public and media is invited to attend.
- Pinwheel Planting – April 11
- Join NC DHHS, Division of Public Health (DPH), Division of Child and Family Well-Being and Prevent Child Abuse NC for a Pinwheel Planting at the NC DPH Six Forks Campus in Raleigh. Refreshments will be served. The public and media is invited to attend.
- WHEN: 11:30am-1:00pm
- WHERE: 95605 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609
- SPEAKERS: Susan Gayle Perry, Chief Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being at NCDHHS; Susan Kansagra, State Health Officer/Assistant Secretary for Public Health of NCDPH; and Sharon Hirsch, President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina.
- Join NC DHHS, Division of Public Health (DPH), Division of Child and Family Well-Being and Prevent Child Abuse NC for a Pinwheel Planting at the NC DPH Six Forks Campus in Raleigh. Refreshments will be served. The public and media is invited to attend.
- Wednesday, April 19 – National Digital Advocacy Day
- Join us in advocating for Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and economic supports
- Five Days of Action – April 24-28
- 5 Days of Action is a week designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse and is an initiative of the YMCA Champions for Child Protection, created and designed by Darkness to Light, with support from YMCA of the USA, The Redwoods Group Foundation, the Monique Burr Foundation for Children and the American Camp Association
- Host a Connections Matter Presentation
- Host a Connections Matter presentation for your workplace, community group or faith community and learn about the intersecting topics of ACEs, trauma, resilience and caring connections.
- Host a Children’s Sabbath Celebration
- Host a Children’s Sabbath Celebration and learn how the everyday connections you make help prevent child maltreatment in your faith community.
Child Abuse Prevention Month 2023 Toolkit
Please fill out the form below to download the Child Abuse Prevention Month 2023 Communications Toolkit and assets. After clicking the “Download the Toolkit” button the zip file should automatically start to download. You may need to enable pop-ups if the zip file does not download automatically. We will add additional resources and materials as we finalize them.
Currently, you can find the following materials in the toolkit (as of March 7, 2023): Sample press release, talking points, letter to the editor, public service announcements, proclamation, newsletter blurb, Wear Blue Day social media posts and graphics. Stay tuned for the full Child Abuse Prevention Month Social Media Calendar and graphics.
If you need technical assistance or support, please call Prevent Child Abuse NC Director of Communications and Marketing, Kris Demers, at 919-829-8009 (ext. 619) or email kdemers@preventchildabusenc.org.