[Boone, NC] – Children’s Council of Watauga County joins Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina, the State affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America, in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month 2026. This April, organizations and community members across North Carolina, including nonprofits, government agencies, educators, policymakers, health care providers, faith groups, and businesses, are coming together to highlight the role we all play in supporting families from the start.
“This year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month theme, ‘Positive Childhoods Start With Us,’ reminds us that everyone has a role in creating the conditions children and families need to thrive,” said Sharon Hirsch, President and CEO of Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina. “When we all work together to strengthen communities and support all families, we build a stronger future for us all.”
Child Abuse Prevention Month is an opportunity for community members to learn more about what it means to create communities where families have what they need so their children can reach their full potential.
The Children’s Council offers a wide range of resources to support families with young children. Parent education programs like the Incredible Years series strengthen relationships between parents and children and provide caregivers with tools to manage challenging behaviors appropriately, rather than using harsh discipline. Classes are available for parents of children ages 2 – 5 (preschool), and for parents of ages 6 – 12 (school-aged). The Children’s Council also offers three Circle of Parents support groups and a support group for moms during the post-partum period. These support groups provide parents with a safe space to connect with other caregivers and build strong social networks. This helps families to create their own “village” and reduce isolation. Circle of Parents groups emphasize positive coping skills and resilience that help parents manage stress, frustration, and difficult emotions. The Children’s Council also offers other research-based programs and services that promote protective factors that help prevent incidences of child abuse and neglect.
Community members can get involved with Child Abuse Prevention Month in the following ways:
- Purchase a Kids First License Plate. A portion of each Kids First license plate ($15) is directly transferred to the North Carolina Children’s Trust Fund (NC CTF), which is the only source of state dollars dedicated to the prevention of child maltreatment. To purchase your plate, visit https://tinyurl.com/KidsFirstPlates.
- Download the Child Abuse Prevention Month Toolkit from Positive Childhood Alliance NC, and share resources with your network.
- Join the Positive Childhood Alliance, a growing network of organizations, professionals, and advocates committed to creating positive childhoods for every child in North Carolina.
- Give a gift of hope to make a positive impact on the lives of children in our community by donating to the Children’s Council of Watauga County.
For more ways to get involved with Child Abuse Prevention Month, please visit www.PositiveChildhoodAllianceNC.org.
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