Making Meaningful Connections: April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month Published April 8, 2014 By Debi Hall Family Advocacy outreach manager DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, the Dover Air Force Base Family Advocacy Program encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in strengthening our community and enhancing its resilience. By ensuring parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children's social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families in our community. When individuals, families, and communities possess certain skills, strengths, or resources known as "protective factors," they are able to deal more effectively with stressful events and mitigate or eliminate risk in families and communities. Families thrive when protective factors are robust in their lives and communities. Protective factors help parents to find resources, supports, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress. Research has shown that when parents possess the following protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth, and families are promoted. These six protective factors are linked to a lower incidence of child abuse and neglect: · Nurturing and attachment · Parental resilience · Social connections · Basic economic needs met · Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development · Social and emotional competence of children Did you know that Dover's Family Advocacy Program offers services to enhance these protective factors? Classes for parents of children of all ages and the New Parent Support Program are available to the Dover community, as well as education and counseling for couples in strengthening their relationship. Our daily lives can be quite stressful and Family Advocacy offers instruction in stress and anger management. All of these skill-building opportunities contribute to the resilience of families and the larger Dover community. April is a month dedicated to celebrating the important role that communities play in protecting children. Focusing on ways to build and promote the protective factors, in every interaction with children and families, is essential in the prevention of child maltreatment and promoting optimal child development. Join the Dover AFB community for the "Walk for Children" on Saturday, 19 April 2014. Make meaningful connections during this event and show your support of child abuse prevention. Registration is required for the "Walk for Children" event. Please call the Dover AFB Family Advocacy Program at 677-2711 to register in advance. All ages are invited to join the walk, and strollers and bicycles are welcome. Wear blue to show your support of Child Abuse Prevention Awareness!