Assemblymember Gail Pellerin joins CASA of Santa Cruz ahead of Child Abuse Prevention Month
Jeanette Bent
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) — Assemblymember Gail Pellerin and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Cruz County came together on Wednesday for a press conference regarding Child Abuse Prevention Month.
They team highlighted the importance of community support, stability, and resources to prevent child abuse and neglect.
According to CASA, “Each year, more than 360,000 children in the United States are in the dependency court and foster care systems because of experiencing abuse or neglect.”
Since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and this year’s theme is “Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention,” CASA is hoping “to send a clear reminder that healthy and whole families create stronger and more resilient communities.”
They say that a child in the foster care system will typically move into multiple homes and attend multiple schools. “All this trauma and instability has long-term effects on not only the individual, but also our community,” according to CASA.
CASA says that preventing child abuse requires a community effort, and the speakers at Wednesday’s press conference discussed those efforts as well as various community protective factors put in place to prevent child abuse and neglect.
They suggest that families connection to local support services like housing and food assistance programs as well as healthcare. This is to help maintain their foundation and reduce child welfare interactions, according to CASA.
“Keeping families out of crisis is the key to preventing child neglect and abuse,” said CASA. “Prevention is possible when we invest in families before a crisis happens.”