April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Central Alabama Child Advocacy Center (CAC) will hold their annual Pinwheel Garden Planting on Tuesday, April 9 at 12:15 p.m. at 420 Broad St.

The program will honor the almost 300 children involved in child abuse investigations last year, who are now thankfully safe and protected.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Child Abuse Prevention month recognizes the “importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families.”

During the month of April and throughout the year, communities are encouraged to increase awareness and provide education and support to families through resources and strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect. Each year, the White House and many states issue proclamations to raise awareness and to encourage communities to take steps to improve the well-being of children.

The 2019 Prevention Resource Guide from the U.S. Department is also available for more information.

This year’s theme “Strong and Thriving Families” aligns with the 21st National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. The Resource Guide focuses on protective factors that build on family strengths to foster healthy child and youth development.

This can be found online at www.childwelfare.gov.

We commend the CAC for their accomplishments in the past year.

Saving 300 children from abusive and neglectful situations is something to celebrate however there are still more that need help.

Let us take what we recognize this month into the rest of the year in helping abused and neglected children.

It should be a year-round effort.