April Marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month

One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. And, only 10 percent of those victims actually tell anyone about it.

That means that a number of people in your circle of friends have experienced child sexual abuse, and most likely, they haven't told a soul.

That person could be you.

April marks the month when advocates throughout the United States, band together to bring more awareness to this issue.

It's been exactly 30 years since the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month was proclaimed. This year, President Barack Obama had this to say in his official designation of the month:

"America is a country where all of us should be able to pursue our own measure of happiness and live free from fear. But for the millions of children who have experienced abuse or neglect, it is a promise that goes tragically unfulfilled. National Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time to make their struggle our own and reaffirm a simple truth: that no matter the challenges we face, caring for our children must always be our first task.  

"Realizing that truth in our society means ensuring children know they are never alone -- that they always have a place to go and there are always people on their side. Parents and caregivers play an essential part in giving their children that stability. But we also know that keeping our children safe is something we can only do together, with the help of friends and neighbors and the broader community. All of us bear a responsibility to look after them, whether by lifting children toward their full potential or lending a hand to a family in need."

So, in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we've pulled together short list of Georgia events and resources for additional information:

EVENTS:

• Stewards of Children (Darkness to Light) trainings are ongoing. Click here for a place and time near you. There are a number in April.

• The Atlanta Association of Black Journalists will be hosting a panel discussion on child abuse and coverage by the media on April 9. For more information, check the organization's website.

• SafePath Children's Advocacy Center, located in Marietta, will host its annual "Safety Rules Rule" event on April 20. The event is free and open to the community. Click here for more information.

• A march is planned April 22 in Atlanta to bring awareness to child abuse. To find more information about it, see the event's Facebook page, or email the organizers at macaatlanta@gmail.com.

-- Have an event going on that we don't know about? Let us know in the comment section. --

RESOURCES:

>> CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates): CASA advocates for the best interest of abused or neglected children in juvenile court proceedings. They are always in need of volunteers.

>> Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia: This organization serves as an umbrella group for child advocacy centers in Georgia. There are about 40.

>> Children's Bureau (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)

• Read the most recent child maltreatment report published in December 2012, which includes information about Georgia.
• Child Welfare Information Gateway: Find valuable tip sheets for parents and other caregivers.

>> Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Child Protection Center): This center provides medical investigations of child abuse, treatment, and trainings, among other things.

>> Georgia Care Connection: This agency identifies commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC) and links them to services.

>> Georgia Center for Child Advocacy: Located in Atlanta, this center sees children and families mostly from DeKalb and Fulton counties. It focuses on prevention (Stewards of Children training), treatment and advocacy.

>> Governor's Office for Children and Families: This agency works to reach, support, and empower communities serving Georgia’s children and families. It also leads the state's CSEC (commercial sexual exploitation of children) Task Force.

>> Gwinnett Children's Shelter: The shelter provides a safe haven for runaways, homeless, abused, neglected or abandoned children. It operates 24 hours a day, all year.

>> Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center (Gwinnett Children's Advocacy Center): This organization provides resources for victims of sexual assault, as well as child abuse.

>> Juvenile Justice Information Exchange: Housed at Kenessaw State University, JJIE is a group of journalists who cover the juvenile justice system, youth culture, and other issues facing young people and their parents.

>> Prevent Child Abuse Georgia: Housed at Georgia State University, this organization focuses on prevention, awareness and research, among other things.

>> StreetGRACE: This faith-based nonprofit focuses on ending domestic child trafficking. It is located in Norcross.

>> Voices for Georgia's Children: This nonprofit focuses on child policy and advocacy in the state of Georgia.

>> Wellspring Living: This nonprofit provides a safe haven for abused children. It has been serving survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation since 2001.

>> youthSpark: Formerly the Juvenile Justice Fund, this Atlanta organization works to end child sex trafficking by, among other things, training law enforcement officers in working with victims and working with young girls deemed at risk for exploitation.

You might also be interested in reading:

• Ending Abuse: Linda Newton's Big Challenge
• Lessons from Jorelys Rivera's Death
• Moms Talk: Child Molestation
• Was Justice Served for Caylee?
• Jerry Sandusky Guilty: Was Justice Served?

(Disclosure: Joy L. Woodson, the editor of Lilburn-Mountain Park Patch, currently does or has worked with a number of organizations mentioned in this article.)