National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Date: 04/13/19

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It’s important that throughout this month we learn and spread awareness. We’ll discuss key topics and include links to more facts.

Child neglect is the leading cause of child abuse deaths. In 2017, there were 26,006 victims of neglect in Indiana.

What is child neglect?

Child neglect is the most common form of abuse. It occurs when kids do not have access to their basic needs.

In many cases of neglect, parents or caretakers may not know enough about the basic needs of raising a child. Health, hygiene, and nutritional needs of their kids may not be fully understood. Children may not have access to:

• Enough food
• Clothing
• Education
• Health care
• Nurturing
• Emotional support
• Housing

What happens to neglected kids?

• Harm to physical, mental, and emotional health
• Injuries
• Poor self-esteem
• Depression
• Substance abuse
• Hard time learning in school

For more information on child neglect, visit Prevent Child Abuse Indiana's website.