As the title states, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Each year in April, multiple organizations, whether that be at the state level, federal level, or private organizations hold events and make efforts to make the public more aware of both issues.
Both child abuse and sexual abuse are things that many will have experienced, whether themselves or through a loved one. 1 in 7 children are reported as having experienced abuse before the age of eighteen, and an estimated one in 19, both men (1 in 33) and women (1 in 6) will experience sexual assault on a yearly basis.
There are steps one can take to help prevent these situations.
Make sure you know your local support agencies, such as the Child Advocacy Center in West Plains. They can be found at 411 Garfield St. or called by dialing 417-256-4445.
Audio from Tina Miller of the Child Advocacy Center in West Plains:
Tips and advice for preventing sexual assault can be read by going to rainn.org. There, one can find various links to being personally safe, including online safety, as well as what to look for in others.
A list of things you can do to reduce child abuse can be found at dcyf.wa.gov, which lists 10 helpful tips.
Child abuse can be reported by calling the Child Abuse or Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738.
Sexual assault can also be reported by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline for advice by dialing 1-800-656-4673.
If one wishes to take a course in training required for a mandated reporter of child abuse, they can do so by visiting https://protectmokids.com/.
