Connections Matter

Communities have a significant impact on families. Families thrive in supportive communities that offer plenty of resources to support families and opportunities for them to build meaningful connections with others. Children living in healthy, thriving families surrounded by supportive communities are less likely to experience abuse and neglect.

Supportive communities can take many forms but often include; safe places for children to play, opportunities for neighbors to interact, and a nurturing environment that encourages lasting connections.

In a time of physical distancing, we encourage you to keep the messages of child abuse prevention month AND that of social connections secure in alternative ways! Reaching out to neighbors and families through phone, text and FaceTime, even to offer emotional support is important!

What can you do?

• Face-to-face from afar: The next best thing to in-person interaction is video chat, because facial cues, body language, and other nonverbal forms of communication are essential for bonding. When possible, opt for video over messaging or calling and play around with doing what you would normally do with others.
• One-minute kindness: receiving a direct message or e-mail with a genuine compliment or expression of gratitude is more personal and longer-lasting—without taking much more time. After all, we need a little extra kindness to counter the stress and uncertainty of the coronavirus.
• As you delay or cancel an event, have an online drive (collect donations or share an amazon wish list)- many children and families face additional hardship due to school closings (access to free and reduced lunch, the additional burden of childcare costs)
• Facebook live your pinwheel planting and encourage others to virtually share how they are spreading awareness and helping families during CAP month.
• Let local officials know how vital community resources are to build strong families

Take a step in April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, to help create communities where children are, safe thriving, and full of HOPE! While maintaining a safe physical distance, everyone can do their part to ensure the connections we make during the CVOID-19 pandemic—matter most.

Visit www.belongingforhope.org for more information, resources, and ways you can get involved.