The goal of Prevention Services is to strengthen families by ensuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of its children. These services are designed to:
- Prevent the occurrence (or reoccurrence) of child abuse/neglect from any caretaker
- Prevent out of home care (including the prevention of foster care)
- Target population
- Degree of trauma experienced by the child and family
- Level of intervention by LDSS
- Families who identify their problems and seek help through prevention are more likely to benefit quickly from services and their children are less likely to be at risk of abuse and neglect and out-of-home care
- Early involvement with the family reduces the likelihood of abuse and neglect occurring, maintains permanency for the child in their family, and preserves sibling groups
- Strength-based family engagement approaches empower family members and increase their opportunity to be self-sufficient
- Training and education in the areas of parents' understanding of child development, behavior management, stress management, attachment, and nurturing reduces negative behavior problems and family conflict and improves family relationships
Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Annually the governor designates April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Virginia. Individuals and organizations in Virginia and across the United States mark the month with public awareness efforts and by distributing and planting blue pinwheels, the national symbol for child abuse prevention.
Child abuse and neglect is the cause of more than 1,700 deaths each year in the United States. What can you do to save a child from abuse, neglect, and death?
Packet Materials
Calendar of Child Abuse Prevention Month Events
| Event | Discription | Location | LDSS | Date | Time | Point of Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Fun Day | Bring your family and enjoy a carnival like atmosphere with vendors, Bouncy House, Corn Hole Tournament, Cake Walk and Much more! | 120 E. Court Street Rocky Mount, Va. 24151 | Franklin Co. Social Services | 4/22/2023 | 11am- 4pm | anita.turner@dss.virginia.gov |
| Child Abuse Prevention Month Event | Planting Pinwheels, Printing prevention materials, Hosting a Child Abuse Prevention Event, Providing blue ribbons to local agencies and businesses. | King of Glory Lutheran Church | James City County DSS | 3/30/2023 | 5:30 pm | juliet.heishman@jamescitycountyva.gov |
| Wear Blue Day | April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, positive childhood experiences build healthy families-let's start #BuildingTogether on #WearBlueDay2023 on Friday, March 31st! | Virginia | Families Forward | 3/31/2023 | all day | hholloway@familiesforwardva.org |
| Mandated Reporter Training | Mandated Reporter Training with community partners. | Community Action | Danville Department of Social Services | 4/1/2023 | 2:00 P.M. | tyra.williamson@dss.virginia.gov |
| Building Together | How can people without kids get involved in #BuildingTogether? By staying connected in their communities and helping ease the burden on #overloaded families! Learn more ways you can help here: https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/introducing-building-better-childhoods/ | Virginia | Families Forward | 4/1/2023 | all month | hholloway@familiesforwardva.org |
| Positive Childhood Experiences | Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) lay the foundation for strong, healthy futures. Tag people who are #BuildingTogether to create positive childhood experiences in your community and learn more at https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/balancing-adverse-childhood-experiences-with-hope/ | Virginia | Families Forward | 4/1/2023 | All Month | hholloway@familiesforwardva.org |
| Community Prevention | We are having all DSS staff wear blue on March 31st and will be sharing photos of staff on the social media page for the agency. We have asked that other community partners such as the daycare and the school participate in this as well. We are planning on having pinwheels in the court house lawn and sending home pinwheel coloring sheets through the school and daycare. | Craig County Community | Craig County Department of Social Services | 4/1/2023 | 11am | rebekah.mitchell@dss.virginia.gov |
| Champions for Children | We have an annual fundraiser campaign to raise funds and awareness of child abuse and to support our foster care children and the families that we serve in our community. Pinwheel gardens with banners at focal points in the county and other platforms for thanking sponsors, lapel pins or similar items to distribute to community partners. In recognition of the month, we will be attending several community events promoting child abuse prevention and recruiting foster homes. Our community events include the Fauquier SPCA Community Yard Sale and Vendor Fair on 4/29/23 and 30th celebration of the Fauquier Community Child Care on 4/22/23. The Department will be partnering with Head Start, where students will be drawing pictures indicating "what makes them feel safe at home". | In the Community | Fauquier County Department of Social Services | 4/1/2023 | Ongoing | stacy.cundiff@dss.virginia.gov |
| Annual Child Abuse & Neglect Conference- "Building Together: Prevention in Partnership" | Conference speakers will discuss effective strategies and practices relating to cross-system partnerships, innovative approaches to service delivery, and strengthening and supporting families. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic workshops and network with other child welfare service providers and advocates in the field. | Richmond Doubltree Hilton | Sponsored by VDSS in partnership with Families Forward | 4/4/2023 | all day- must register in advance | brandi.peterson9@dss.virginia.gov |
| Child Abuse Prevention Walk and Pinwheel Garden Ceremony | "April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month recognizes the importance of families, communities and service providers working together to strengthen households and individuals to prevent child abuse and neglect. Everyone plays an important role in supporting families to prevent child abuse and neglect. As a community, we will wear blue all month long to help raise awareness. Join Norfolk Department of Human Services on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at 12 noon as we march from 741 Monticello Ave., Norfolk, VA to the steps of City Hall to bring community awareness. At 12:30 p.m., Mayor Alexander will deliver the proclamation and we will conclude the ceremony by planting a pinwheel garden outside of City Hall." | Norfolk Department of Human Services 741 Monticello Ave., Norfolk, VA to the steps of City Hall located at 810 Union Street, Norfolk, VA. | Norfolk Department of Human Services | 4/4/2023 | 12:00 PM | xaviera.evans@norfolk.gov |
| Virtual Pinwheel Garden | Pinwheels represent our vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed. Learn more and plant your local pinwheel at: https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/pinwheels-for-prevention/ | Nationwide | Families Forward | 4/7/2023 | all day | hholloway@familiesforwardva.org |
| Prevention in Partnership | #PreventionInPartnership is at the heart of all we do! Positive childhood experiences build healthy families. Throughout #CAPMonth, tag your prevention partners and tell us what they mean to your work. | Virtual | Families Forward | 4/8/2023 | All Month | hholloway@familiesforwardva.org |
| YOUTH OF VIRGINIA SPEAK OUT-AWARENESS EVEMT | We are joining the Virginia State Police by going to different schools to educate driving safely, drug awareness, seatbelt safety, arrive alive campaign. We will have pin wheels, blue ribbons, and educational brochures on child abuse and neglect. | Lebanon High School | RUSSELL COUNTY DSS | 4/13/2023 | 9:00 A.M. | elizabeth.vance@dss.Virginia.gov |
| Digital Advocacy Day- April 19th | Today's the day! Join our Nationwide Digital Advocacy Day by contacting your members of Congress about <<LEGISLATION>>. Start #BuildingTogether here: https://preventchildabuse.org/digital-advocacy-day/ | Virginia | Families Forward | 4/19/2023 | All Day | hholloway@familiesforwardva.org |
| Celebrating Children's Fair | It is an opportunity for families and caregivers to receive information about resources available in the county to support the safety and well-being of children and families. | Carysbrook Elementary School | Fluvanna County Department of Social Services. | 4/29/2023 | 10-12 am | RoShelle.Reed@dss.virginia.gov |
| Northumberland Annual Community Resource Fair | Event for the community | Heathsville Family YMCA | Northumberland Department of Social Services | 4/29/2023 | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | sierra.ashton@dss.virginia.gov |
| SperryFest | Rappahannock DSS will be planting pinwheel gardens throughout the community (library, food pantry, government buildings, community partner locations, etc.) during the month of April and inviting citizens to plant their own pinwheels alongside in the different gardens. On the last Friday of April, DSS staff and volunteers will gather up all the gardens and plant a large community garden in the middle of a signature community event, Sperryfest. | At various locations throughout the community, ending in Sperryville, Virginia. | Rappahannock Department of Social Services | 4/29/2023 | 10:00 AM | gail.a.crooks@dss.virginia.gov |
