In 2021 Governor Kim Reynolds proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Iowa. The announcement proclaims that “every child can have a great childhood by making sure each family has the support and education they need in raising their children in safe, nurturing environments.” Prevent Child Abuse Iowa (PAC Iowa) set a lofty goal for 2022 of a obtaining a proclamation from county supervisors or local leaders in all 99 counties across the state.
A 2021 report from the Iowa Department of Human Services entitled 2021 Child Welfare By the Numbers, states that 35,593 assessments for child abuse or neglect were investigated in Iowa for the calendar year 2021. Of those investigations, the total number of abused or neglected children, 5,342 (47%) were 5 years of age or younger, 2,850 (25%) were between 6-10 years, and the remaining 3,094 (28%) were older than 11 years. Of all substantiated child abuse or neglect: 55% was neglect (denial of critical care), 23% was dangerous substance, 9% was presence of illegal drugs in a child’s body, 7% was physical abuse and 4% was sexual abuse. According to the Center for Dieses Control and Prevention at least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year, and this is likely an underestimate. In 2019, 1,840 children died of abuse and neglect in the United States. Additionally, in the United States, the total lifetime economic burden associated with child abuse and neglect was approximately $428 billion in 2015. This economic burden rivals the cost of other high-profile public health problems, such as stroke and type 2 diabetes.
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America, the parent organization of PCA Iowa, introduced the pinwheel as the new national symbol for child abuse prevention. Why? Because by its very nature, the pinwheel connotes playfulness, joy, and childhood. It has come to serve as a physical reminder of the great childhoods we want for all children. As a symbol, the cyclical nature of the pinwheel calls to mind the positive cycles of love and support we want to help families create. It also represents Prevent Child Abuse America’s efforts to change the way our nation thinks about prevention by focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur.
This years theme for Child Abuse Prevention Month is “Growing a Better Tomorrow for All Children, Together.” PCA Iowa, alongside other chapters, affiliates, and supporting organizations are using the community garden metaphor to reinforce the message that “Every day, we help families and children thrive.”
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Prevent Child Abuse Iowa recommends the following ways that people everywhere can dig in and help raise awareness and impact virtually during this year’s CAP Month:
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Wear blue on every Friday in April, Wear Blue Day, to show support for children and families. Post a photo or video on social media and include the #WearBlueDay2022 hashtag.
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Participate in Prevent Child Abuse America’s nationwide Digital Advocacy Day bit.ly/3IS3aj7 on April 27. Contact legislators to let them know that you and your community support family-friendly policies, such as paid sick and family leave, that help reduce stress on parents and caregivers.
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Follow Prevent Child Abuse Iowa on social media and share our posts throughout April. Encourage friends and family to do the same. Use the hashtags #GrowingBetterTogether and #CAPMonth to signify your commitment to helping children, families and entire communities to thrive.
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Make a tax-deductible donation and help build a virtual pinwheel garden bit.ly/VirtualPinwheelGarden.
For more ways to get involved in CAP Month, please visit pcaiowa.org/ or preventchildabuse.org/
