In 1983, a presidential proclamation declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Ever since, April has been a time to raise awareness of child abuse in this country and to encourage families and communities to commit together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Sunrise Children’s Services joins with others to shine a light on this issue every year with the goal of one day permanently breaking the cycle of child abuse.

One such Sunrise partner is Face It, created in 2012 as a response to the outcry against the growing number of child abuse deaths in Kentucky. The initiative was officially launched in 2013, led by Kosair Charities. On their website, Face It proclaims, “Knowing the signs of child abuse and neglect is an essential tool for anyone working with children.” Here are some of those signs:

• Bruising in babies who are not cruising yet

• Burns on a young baby or child, such as those caused by cigarettes or immersion in hot water

• Aggression toward peers, pets, other animals

• Seems afraid of parents or other adults

(A complete list and other resources can be found at http://faceitabuse.org/)

Sunrise will join another partner, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, along with Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin and First Lady Glenna Bevin, on the front Capitol lawn in Frankfort on March 22 to plant pinwheels to spread awareness for child abuse prevention. This is just one way Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky is fulfilling its vision of engaging partners to make the ending of child maltreatment a public priority. More information and resources can be found at http://pcaky.org/.

According to the National Children’s Alliance, an estimated 1,670 children died from abuse and neglect in the U.S. in 2015. The NCA also reported that an estimated 683,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect that same year. Currently, there are more than 8,500 children in out-of-home care in Kentucky.

The time is now to break the cycle of abuse. Become aware of the problem. Look for signs. Get involved. Together we can prevent child abuse and neglect. Permanently.

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a real blessing. Psalm 127:3 (Good News Translation)