COLUMBUS – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund encourages all Ohioans to join the #EverydayOhioHeroes campaign to recognize everyday heroes who make our community a safe place for families and children. Use #EverydayOhioHeroes on social media to recognize those making a difference.
In Ohio, everyday heroes such as parents, family members, educators, service providers, public officials and faith-based organizations share the responsibility to protect our youth. All of us play a critical role in ensuring that children are safe and can grow up without fear of abuse and neglect to realize their full potential.
“Adverse childhood experiences such as child abuse and neglect have the potential to negatively impact a child’s mental and physical health across the course of a lifespan,” said Lindsay Williams, Executive Director of the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund. “Research has suggested that these negative impacts may be substantially reduced for individuals who have at least one trusted adult supporter, a hero, during their childhood.”
The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund encourages everyone in the community to “Be a Hero in the Eyes of a Child – one simple act of encouragement at a time.” By recognizing the role that #EverydayOhioHeroes play in the lives of children, we are celebrating the superpowers inherent within local individuals, organizations and communities. This April, #EverydayOhioHeroes are being called upon to “Mentor. Donate. Empower. And help prevent child abuse and neglect in your community.”
For more information about child abuse prevention programs and activities in your community, visit octf.ohio.gov. To report suspected child abuse or neglect 24/7 in Ohio, call 1-855-OH-CHILD(855-642-4453). The number is toll-free, and reports can be made anonymously.
The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund is the state’s sole public funding source dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect. Housed within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund works with its partners in every county to serve all Ohio communities.
