#HopeinAction
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and an important time for caregivers, child abuse professionals, advocacy groups and communities at large to consider how they can prevent and address child abuse in their homes and communities. Here are helpful ways you can support the equation to put #HopeinAction and be a hero in your area. Every contribution adds up.
PREVENTION: Everyone’s Responsibility
When facing a critical issue like abuse, people often think prevention is a pipedream. It’s actually an essential part of caring for and working with children — one that can profoundly shape a child’s future. Children’s Advocacy Centers see that impact firsthand, which is why they prioritize prevention education that helps children grow up safer and stronger. In 2025, more than 125,000 people in North Carolina received prevention education through CAC programs — helping communities stop abuse before it occurs.
Here are some ways YOU can get involved and be the hero:
- Have Conversations with Elementary, Middle & High School-Aged Children
Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina (CACNC) provides helpful resources that help guide conversations about child abuse. Teach children the language they need to talk about their bodies and help them understand/create boundaries around what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. These lessons help children know when something isn’t right and give them the power to speak up. - Self-Guided Free Trainings for Caregivers
These trainings provided by the Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina (PCANC) (the NC state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America) offer the latest information, research, and strategies to help build a deeper understanding of what families need for children to be happy and healthy.
ACTION: Responding to Suspected Maltreatment is the Law
Child maltreatment is a broad term, which includes sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect.
Every adult in North Carolina is a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse. (N.C.G.S 7B-301 and N.C.G.S. 14-318.6)
Here’s how YOU can proactively protect children in your community:
- Get Educated on the Signs
Sudden changes in behavior, fear of going home or to previously trusted places, changes in eating and sleeping, and unexplained injuries are all potential signs of abuse. Learn more so you know what to look for and how to help. - Learn How to Report Suspected Abuse
If you suspect a child is being abused, you must make a report with your local Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Social Services (DSS). Learn more about what to expect when making a report and get answers to reporting questions.
HEALING: Provides Hope & Breaks the Cycle
CACNC supports local CACs across the state – helping them maintain stable and effective child advocacy centers and multi-disciplinary teams that provide:
- Advocacy – encompassing awareness, outreach, and education
- Legal & medical guidance
- Technical assistance
- Training
- Networking
- Center Development
Here’s how YOU can support this statewide effort with hope and healing:
- Build Education & Awareness in Your Own Backyard
Be a catalyst for building supportive communities around children that keep them safe and share valuable resources about prevention with your neighbors and friends. - Volunteer Your Time & Talent
Reach out to local CACs, schools or community centers, volunteer or support local awareness events. Find your local CAC here. - Be an Advocate
Encourage schools and community organizations to provide education materials, support CACNC via social media or become a “Hero for Hope” and donate so that we can continue to offer healing and support services to victims.
Stay involved and receive new insights through our newsletter. You can be the hero for NC children. Sign up now.
