Together we can prevent Sexual Abuse Against Children! Join StopS-CAN to say NO today

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, StopS-CAN encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Nigeria a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help prevent child sexual abuse and neglect by making meaningful connections with children, youth and families in our communities.

Research shows that protective factors are present in healthy families. Promoting these factors is among the most effective ways to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse and neglect. They are:

• Nurturing and attachment
• Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development
• Parental resilience
• Social connections
• Concrete supports for parents
• Social and emotional competence of children

“April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children and strengthening families,” said Nkemakonam Linda Ijeh StopS-CAN’s director. “Everyone’s participation is critical. Focusing on ways to connect with families is the best thing our community can do to strengthen families and prevent child sexual abuse and neglect.”

In support of these efforts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, its Child Welfare Information Gateway, the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention and over 30 National Prevention Partners have created 2018 Prevention Resource Guide: Keeping Children Safe and Families Strong in Supportive Communities. The resource guide, designed for service providers who work throughout the community to strengthen families, is available online at http://preventchildabuse.org/resources/

For more information about child sexual abuse prevention programs and activities during the month of April, contact StopS-CAN via email [email protected]

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