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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and offers an opportunity for judges and attorneys, as well as families and community members, to collaborate and focus their awareness on ways to help prevent child abuse and neglect.
In 2023, the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services’ (DFPS) Data Card reported over 58,000 confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect in Texas. Strong community engagement with support for families can help prevent child abuse and neglect. Judges, attorneys, and other professionals can educate themselves on prevention resources to spread awareness, spotlight the need to prevent child abuse before it occurs, and energize their community efforts.
DFPS provides a social media toolkit on Child Abuse Prevention with tips and resources that can be shared among communities to promote prevention practices. To highlight resources for Texas parents, the DFPS Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) division manages child abuse prevention programs across the state by helping communities identify and meet their needs. PEI provides parents and caregivers information on health and development, parenting tips, childcare, and education, along with a Community Toolkit to develop a framework outlining what communities can do to help.
Other resources that may be useful for judges and attorneys to reference and share are listed below:
By utilizing resources and spreading awareness, judges and attorneys can help prevent child abuse and encourage families to thrive within their communities.
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