Doing Things Differently: Supporting Families During National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Each April, we honor National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  As we focus on this year’s theme "Doing Things Differently: Moving from the Challenge to the Change," the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) encourages our partners to continue to build communities that ensure families have access to fundamental supports, such as housing, food, transportation, and child care, which are the foundation of prevention. ACF’s Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot program is a testament to this type of support. This program recognizes that providing essential supplies, such as diapers, can help alleviate the economic strain on families , reduce stress, and mitigate the risk of maltreatment.

Support means not waiting for a crisis to occur but proactively creating safe and nurturing communities and environments for families. Being mindful of the stressors that families face—many of which are out of their direct control—and focusing on programs and policies that address structural barriers can create more equitable opportunities for families' health and well-being. By applying an equity lens to providing concrete supports, such as improving access to ACF programs and services through updated and tailored guidance for hard-to-reach populations, we can help all families maintain a healthy environment for their children. 

Truly supporting families requires a holistic perspective that recognizes the interdependence between parents and children. A two-generation approach, also known as "whole family," "multigenerational," "intergenerational," or "Ohana Nui," builds this interdependence. It acknowledges that empowering parents and supporting their success is intrinsically linked to their child’s sense of security. It encourages family-oriented policies and programs that simultaneously promote parental economic stability, education, and job training while enhancing early childhood development and education. Strong families help reduce the impact of stress and create an environment that interrupts generational cycles of poverty and improves a child’s and family’s well-being. 

During National Child Abuse Prevention Month and throughout the year, we ask our partners to join us in truly doing something different. Let’s come together and work toward a future where families are supported and every child grows up safe, nurtured, and loved. Visit the 2024 National Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign page to learn more about this year's theme and access our outreach materials.

As always, thank you to our partners and colleagues for your commitment to improving outcomes for all children, youth, and families. With your support, we can implement effective prevention and early intervention strategies and change the ways systems respond to families living in poverty. These actions are necessary to ensure equity and give all families the opportunity to thrive.