April is National Child Awareness and Prevention Month

BrendaBy Brenda Cannon Henley
Some subjects are simply no fun to write about, but they must be given attention from time to time. I would much rather be writing about happy things, but this subject is dear to my heart, and one in which we all should become involved on some scale. In 1983, an official presidential proclamation was made to set aside one of the prettiest months of the year, April, as National Child Awareness and Prevention Month. It is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month and many times, the two go hand in hand. Sad to report, but the statistics for 2012 reveal that in our 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, an estimated 678,810 boys and girls were victims of child abuse and 1,640 of those sweet children died as a result of abuse or neglect.

The majority of child abuse cases stemmed from situations and conditions that could be prevented by education, community awareness, and people being willing to get involved. So many turn a blind eye, or the other cheek, because they no longer are willing to take a stand, speak out for a victim, or risk legal involvement that could cost them reputation or financial hardship.

Look at four little girls playing near your home. Find six little boys that are on a ball team or in a Sunday school class. One of the four girls will be a victim of child abuse and one of the six boys will be hurt before he or she reaches the 18th birthday. Those confirmed statistics are available for you to read and verify. Abuse does not discriminate in the typical manner. It knows no racial, cultural, or background boundaries and even in the finest and most secure of homes, it happens.

BCH_2015-0303One of the saddest revelations of my adult life came when I had a young couple sit across from me in my office and tell me the horrible and longstanding story of how the father of the young man was a terrible abuser, although he was active in our church and in ministry for many years. The young man, now a father himself, told horrible stories of how his father would come home from church, throw off his church clothing and begin to physically and mentally abuse the beautiful young mom, and then set in on the boys, one at a time, until he was satisfied and sated. The mom felt she had no choices, no options, and no plans. She was not educated and had never worked and feared she could not rear her children, so she stayed in that horrible relationship until one day she literally feared for her life and fled. The young man, whom I love, still bears the horrific scars of both physical and mental abuse and has suffered for all of his life.

Last year in Texas alone, 156 boys and girls died at the hands of abuse by a family member. That is unacceptable and must not be allowed to continue. No human’s mental or physical pleasure should be allowed at the hands of an innocent child.

What can we, as a community, do? What can our churches do? What can your place of business do? How can you help in a classroom? The first thing is become educated about the matter. Vow to help fight abuse in any way and on any platform you can. Pick one day in April that you and your family, your team, your employees, your classroom, will wear the color blue, which is the designated color for child abuse prevention. Give out material to alert others.

And, perhaps, more importantly that anything else, listen and be aware. There are signs a child is in trouble. Here are some things we can do if we suspect abuse:

  • Listen to the child’s words and expressed emotions.
  • Believe the child and stress that his or her safety is important.
  • Not press the child for more information.
  • Reassure the child that he or she has done nothing wrong. Abuse is never a child’s fault.
  • Remember that the people who harm children are often people whom children love.
  • Avoid negative comments.
  • Encourage the child, saying that he or she did the right thing by telling and that it was brave to tell.
  • Provide the proper channels, law enforcement, counseling, or intervention to save the child.

(This article published 3/2/2015)

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, at
[email protected], or by using the contact form below.

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