April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1 in 4 children experience some form of child abuse in their lifetime. Child abuse refers to the physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect of a child under the age of 18. It is estimated that the total lifetime economic burden associated with child maltreatment in the United States is $124 billion.

Exposure to child abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can severely harm brain development and negatively impact the nervous and immune systems, leaving youth survivors at risk for future unhealthy behaviors and negative health outcomes. Educate yourself and your community about child abuse and prevention strategies that you can deploy locally.

Learn More and Get Involved:

• Discover strategies to address child abuse in the CDC resource Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities.
•  Leverage CDC policies and procedures to prevent child sexual abuse in your youth-serving organizations.
•  Share this tip sheet with youth to help them spot child abuse and know how to respond if someone they know is in danger.
•  
   and learn how to prevent ACEs.

Get Help or Report Abuse: