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April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month

During National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, advocates join efforts to help individuals and organizations in every community strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. This April, these efforts are even more important given reports on the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on child welfare. Research shows that family stress leads to increased risk of child abuse and neglect. These stress levels will especially be increased in families that lose jobs. Additionally, COVID-19 forces families into isolation and away from the extensive network of community supports they rely on in times of need. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has carefully studied these risks and issued a report in 2018 identifying family social isolation as one of the leading risk factors for child maltreatment. 
 
The Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants provides funding and support for organizations that work to prevent child abuse and provide services for victims and their families in DC. To access support and services please contact the DC Victim Hotline by phone or text at 1-844-4HELPDC (844-443-5732) or via chat at dcvictim.org.