DCS emphasizes community support during Child Abuse Prevention Month

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 1:20 PM

The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) and its community partners are working together to raise awareness and educate the public in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

DCS encourages individuals and organizations to play a role in making Indiana a safer place for children and families -- not just in April, but throughout the year.

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb has proclaimed April Child Abuse Prevention Month to call attention to efforts to support families and keep children safe. View the governor’s proclamation here.

“Every child has the right to safe, secure and supportive environments free from child abuse and neglect,” Governor Holcomb said. “The key to preventing these cases is to ensure we have community programs and systems that are engaged and supportive so families can thrive.”

DCS and its partners work to provide support for communities through preventive programs for families, including Healthy Families Indiana and Community Partners for Child Safety (CPCS). DCS also opened family resource centers in La Porte, Wayne, Tippecanoe, Clark and Elkhart counties in the past six months. These centers are designed to allow easy access to a range of services and supports, including tutoring, notary services, parent trainings, tax preparation and other resources to help increase protective factors and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.

“Child safety is our number one goal,” DCS Director Eric Miller said. “For DCS, this month is all about increasing awareness of the things that put children at risk so that families and communities can better protect them and prevent abuse and neglect.”

Throughout April, DCS will share resources, photos and videos related to prevention on Instagram, X and YouTube. DCS local offices and partners also will host special events focused on education and prevention. In partnership with Firefly Children and Family Alliance, the Marion County DCS office will host a kickoff celebration at Bicentennial Plaza from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on April 7. To view the statewide Child Abuse Prevention Month calendar of events, click here.

Anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused should call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 800-800-5556. For more information and resources on preventing child abuse and neglect, click here.