Fund Raisers (schools, walks, concerts, carnivals, etc.) –These events vary from low-key to high-key events depending on your goal and vision.
Hold a Blue Ribbon Campaign - Bring attention to child abuse prevention with t-shirts bearing an important message. See how many people in your school or organization you can get to wear these t-shirts. Wear a blue ribbon, place a blue ribbon on your car antenna, on your porch light, on a tree, or place a photo of a blue ribbon as your profile anywhere that the ribbon can be viewed by others. Ask your friends and family to do the same.
Plant a pinwheel garden to represent either of the following: 1) the number of children born in your city the previous year (this will signify hope that all children have the stable and loving relationships they need to thrive); 2) the number of substantiated cases by Child Protective Services in your city the previous year; 3) the number of child abuse related fatalities in your state the previous year; or 4) the number of children served by advocacy centers in your city for the previous year. You may consider planting your garden in your front yard, at a community event, in a park, or in front of City Hall - anywhere that the garden can gain attention.
You may download our yard sign artwork and print you own yard sign here.
- Include local groups in your child abuse awareness efforts:
Churches (worship groups)
Universities/College
Child care centers
High schools/Middle/Elementary
Sports
Groups (non-professional or professional)
School (see below)
Sport events (soccer games, football games, little league, etc)
Any influential facilities or local groups where people will gather-be creative.
Set up informative “Kids’ Corner” booths in their atriums and entryways. Display information for youngsters as well as parents to take with them. These might include: 1)“Good Touch Bad Touch” activity book, 2) “Warning Signs of Child Abuse” pocket pals, 3) Parenting tips/tools/resources, 4) List of community support groups/resources, and 5) Statistics.
- Inquire about community events in your area (contact churches, schools, local law enforcement agencies, shelters, advocacy centers) where you can rent a booth and provide information about child abuse (different types of child abuse, ways to detect abuse, how to intervene, and ways to report abuse, parenting tips, list of community support groups/resources, and statistics)
- Local Businesses (car decals/car magnets, t-shirts/caps, pencils/pens, etc.) - Ask them to donate some free of charge in return for their business name on them (free advertisement). Give these products to your members to wear and put on their cars and to distribute pencils, pens, etc.
- Local restaurants/sports venues - We do not necessarily have to collect any monetary donations during the awareness nights. All that we ask is that they designate it a "Child Abuse Awareness Night". You can set up a table, speak to patrons as they enter the establishment or simply walk around and distribute our pamphlets if you wish. The goal is to raise awareness!!!
- Local Hospitals (birth centers) - Provide educational pamphlets about child abuse (different types of child abuse, ways to detect abuse, how to intervene, and ways to report abuse, parenting tips, list of community support groups/resources, and statistics) to all mothers who give birth. Reaching mothers with newborns, whether it be their first child or not, is essential. We can provide this useful information for their reference and for the prevention of child abuse.
- Peaceful March - Get together with enough people and walk down a high traffic street with posters to raise awareness.
- Posters - Reach out to local businesses and ask if you can place posters in their business (laundromats, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.). Also, contact your local schools and department of parks and recreation to obtain permission to place posters for children to see with help numbers (elementary, middle, high).
- Gatherings – get together with like-minded people and invite others. Make the event about child abuse prevention (not necessary fundraisers just an event) to raise awareness and invite the media.
- Email/text – Send a global email/text to everyone in your “Contacts” list that provides useful information/tips as it relates to child abuse and neglect.
- Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) - Create a group, start a page, or simply post child abuse awareness/facts/stats daily.
- Reach out to other advocates – “One voice can make a difference, but a million can change the world”. We CAN all do our part to aide in the elimination of this growing epidemic, but if we want to see an end, or at a minimum, decrease in child abuse/child abuse related fatalities in our community/Nation, then it is imperative that we all join forces and work together. Reach out to other child abuse/child trafficking/crimes against children professionals/organizations to work together and help one another towards a brighter tomorrow.
- Take Action and Contact Your Public Officials –
Email: Find the names of your federal and state elected officials so you can target your message to
those who are likely to listen.
Phone: When action is urgent, such as an upcoming vote on an important bill for children, phone
your Senators or Congressman. To contact your federal representatives by phone, call (202) 224-
3121, tell the operator where you live and you will be connected with their office. Call the White
House comment line at (202) 456-1111.
Mail: Snail mail is slow but it works. Whenever you send a letter, be sure to include your name and
address for a response. Click here for addresses for your Senators and your Representative.
In Person: Speaking directly to your elected officials is the most effective way to communicate with
them. Make an appointment to visit your congressman in his or her home office. Attend town hall
meetings where elected officials seek input from constituents. Invite your local representatives to
your community's preschool program or child care center to visit with the children and parents.
- Local Media (news and radio) – Go online and research all your local radio & news websites and contact them by sending emails or making phone calls. Let them know you’re a child advocate and you want to raise awareness for child abuse and need their help. Advise them that you have an idea for a story and pitch them the story.
Below are some ideas for stories. We have all the statistics needed and other information they may need. Contact us if you need more information.
IDEAS FOR MEDIA COVERAGE
► April child abuse awareness month. Do a story for that month.
► Back to school time – Emphasize the difficulties children encounter when advancing to a new
grade or to another school and how the transition is perhaps twice as difficult for children who
have recently been removed from their homes and are now in foster care. Not only are they
starting a new school, but are also away from their family and in a new home. A story from a
different perspective. (1st day of school from a different perspective)
► Child abuse reports spike when children are back in school. After a long summer with only their
parents around, children are talking to teachers more and likewise, teachers are able to see the
signs and reports abuse.
► Summer time – Reports nearly double during the summer months. You may want to give a
glimpse as to what summer looks like for abused children when they are out of school.– the
isolation and possible increased danger for abused children now that friends and teachers aren’t
around to see them.
► Holiday time – How abused children or foster children spend their holidays. (Easter, Halloween,
Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
► Stay aware of recent child abuse cases in your area or nationwide that have been covered in the
news. Contact the media and let them know that they can link that story to your story to
prevent child abuse by raising awareness.
Be creative, non-violent and honest in your actions. The ideas listed above are but a handful of ideas for raising awareness. There are so many more things that you can do to make a difference in your community.
OR CLICK HERETO DOWNLOAD OUR ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH!
NOW, LET’S GO RAISE MASSIVE AWARENESS!!!
iDEAS FOR RAISING AWARENESS
Another very important factor you need to know to be successful in raising awareness is DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK. Reach out to anyone who will listen! It never hurts to ask.
Project C.H.A.N.C.E. will support you in any way you need. We can provide brochures, posters, statistics, etc. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Find like-minded individuals and form a group of advocates who are willing to work together and expose child abuse for the horrific crime that it is. It doesn’t matter how large or small your group is as long as you all are working together for the same cause.
EDUCATION IS KEY IN PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE. Do what you can to make information available to the children and parents in your community.
We can all do our part to help prevent child abuse and neglect in our community. The following ideas are just starting points for planning activities and raising awareness to protect our children.