NEW ORLEANS -- Since 1983, April has been recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention month. Every April, across the country, service members and families recognize and are made aware of the negative impacts abuse has on the military community.
This year’s theme is “it only takes a minute.”
It only takes a minute to reach out to a parent in need, and help a child at risk.
It only takes a minute for a tragedy to happen.
It only takes a minute to put your child in a safe place and step away to gather yourself or call a friend.
It only takes a minute to help locate a child’s caregiver if you find him unsupervised.
It only takes a minute to praise a child.
Child safety and well-being is everyone’s responsibility: it is your business.
Commands are encouraged to support coordinated community prevention efforts between parents, local agencies and Marine Corps Community Services. Installations and communities offer many resources that address child abuse and neglect:
- Family advocacy programs
- Local agencies
- Youth and teen programs
- Local child protection services
- Community counseling programs
- Department of Defense child safety hotline: (877) 790-1197
- Marine Corps DSTRESS hotline: (877) 476-7734
See MARADMIN 107/14 for more information.