NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TN Tribune) — This April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Nurture the Next is highlighting how people and communities can work together to build a better future for our children. Their social media campaign for the month will use a simple message rooted in a powerful fact: Resilient Communities Build Strong Children.
As a proud member of the Prevent Child Abuse America network, Nurture the Next is dedicated to raising awareness about this issue every April. Inspired by the resiliency of local communities across the state during a difficult last two years, they knew it was the perfect opportunity to highlight the essential role of communities in promoting healthy child development.
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“As the pandemic has shown, local communities remain the bedrock of our society and an important pillar of support for families,” said Kristen Davis, CEO of Nurture the Next. “In communities that support parents and lift up families, children grow up feeling seen, valued, and appreciated, enabling them build healthy connections with the people around them.”
“It’s not just children,” Davis continued. “Communities provide critical layers of support to parents as well, helping them to feel less alone and isolated, which is especially important for those at the beginning of their parenting journey.”
Nurture the Next takes their tagline—raising the next generation, together—seriously. They know a healthy community is made up of a multitude of individuals, organizations, businesses, professionals, and public services that weave themselves together in a beautiful tapestry of support and connection.
“Not only are we going to share information about the important role communities play in protecting children, but we want to make sure we recognize and celebrate all the people and groups that make our communities thrive,” Davis added. “Because through our work, we know that when communities thrive, our children grow more resilient, and our shared future becomes brighter.”
Since 1982, April has been recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every April, communities are encouraged to increase awareness and provide education and support to families through resources and strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect. It is a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families.
Tragically, the United States has one of the worst records on this issue among industrialized nations—losing on average five children every day to child abuse and neglect. In 2019 alone, state agencies across the country confirmed over 656,000 victims of child maltreatment. Last year, there were 72,805 cases of child abuse reported in Tennessee.
You can visit their Resilient Communities Build Strong Children webpage to learn more and download a simple toolkit to join in on the conversation.
You can also learn more about the full services Nurture the Next offer by visiting their For Parents page. From in-home support services to text-based mentorships, they are sure to have the perfect option to meet your needs.
If you need more immediate assistance, please call 1-800-CHILDREN, and Nurture the Next can provide you with support and connect you to the tools and resources you need.
Parenting is hard. Nurture the Next makes sure you are not alone.
