This month-long campaign aims to spotlight simple yet impactful actions that can transform the lives of children by bolstering families and communities. Throughout April, our partners at Prevent Child Abuse New York (PCANY) spearhead a crucial initiative. At the heart of child abuse prevention lies the mission to dismantle barriers to healthy parenting. Individuals demonstrate a collective commitment to support and nurture every child's well-being by actively engaging with families in their communities.
Children flourish when families have access to support and resources before challenges arise. Research shows that positive childhood experiences—such as nurturing relationships, loving caregivers, and safe, stable environments—are essential for healthy development. These protective factors not only help children thrive but also buffer them from the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), reducing risks and fostering resilience.
Ensuring that every child grows up in a supportive and resource-rich community is not a task that falls solely on parents or individual families. It is a shared responsibility—one that requires strong community networks, accessible services, and proactive policies that prioritize prevention.
This April, we stand with partnering agencies throughout New York, and across the country to recognize National Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month. This is a time to reaffirm our belief in the power of prevention to ensure every child grows up safe, supported, and full of promise.
At NYSCADV we believe in a world where all children and families live a purposeful and happy life with hope for the future. To achieve this, we are committed to fostering positive childhoods, ensuring that families have the resources and opportunities they need to feel supported, and strengthening family resilience. We are dedicated to collaborating with agencies across our community to make sure that families have access to the services they need—when they need them.
The 2025 CAP Month theme, “Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention,” reflects our belief in every child’s potential and the shared responsibility of building safe, nurturing communities. Prevention starts with all of us—because when families thrive, children flourish.
A Vision for a Primary Prevention Ecosystem
Creating a hopeful future for all children means reimagining how we, as a society, support families. It requires us to address systemic challenges like poverty and inequity, and to prioritize proactive solutions over reactive interventions. Currently, only $1.50 of every $10 spent on child welfare in the U.S. goes toward prevention.
By shifting this focus, we can build a stronger foundation for children and families—ensuring access to affordable childcare, paid leave, and economic stability.
But this work cannot be done alone. It takes all of us—parents, caregivers, community leaders, policymakers, and advocates—coming together to create an ecosystem of prevention. Prevention isn’t just a goal; it’s a shared commitment to building a world where families are supported and children can thrive.
Join the Movement
Advocacy is a powerful way to make a difference. On April 9, 2025, join organizations nationwide to participate in Prevent Child Abuse America’s Digital Advocacy Day. This event offers individuals a powerful opportunity to unite and urge local, state, and congressional leaders to prioritize children by investing in family-strengthening policies and community-based prevention programs.
Throughout the year, you can take action to support families and advance prevention efforts. Visit PCANY's Policy & Advocacy page to learn more and advocate for resources that ensure all children grow up healthy, happy, and hopeful.
Hope and Prevention: A Shared Responsibility
Prevention is hard work, but it’s also heart work. It’s about creating a culture of care and compassion where every family feels supported, and every child has the chance to succeed. It’s about meeting families with empathy, understanding their struggles, and working together to build a future filled with possibility.
This April, as we honor CAP Month, let us recommit to transforming lives by building a world where every child is surrounded by love, safety, and opportunity. Because when families are supported and hope is within reach, there’s no limit to what children can achieve.
Let’s keep building a brighter future together.
Learn more about Prevent Child Abuse New York.
