A little over 30 years ago, advocates from Missouri and all over the country convinced Congress that child abuse and neglect prevention deserved attention on a federal level and in 1984, under the leadership of President Reagan, April was designated as National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. National Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families.
During this month and throughout the year, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS) is dedicated to supporting families and reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect. LFCS is also dedicated to ensuring that all our policies, whether they are at the local, state, or federal level, continue to support our children and promote strong families.
To learn more about federal policies that help support and protect children here in Missouri and across the country, visit the Child Abuse Prevention Month Website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children & Families, the Children’s Bureau, and Child Welfare Information Gateway – they have designed an excellent timeline outlining significant moments in child abuse prevention in the United States
It is wonderful to look back and see the important role of advocates in helping shape our countries’ programs and priorities, and even more wonderful to know that we still have strong advocates here at LFCS to look out for kids in the decades to come.