April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Blue Ribbon at the Gary Pavilion

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. With this month-long observance, The Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect raises awareness in the community around the critical issue of child abuse and neglect and to educate the public on prevention. This community relations effort is aimed at increasing awareness of child abuse and neglect, increasing public support, and educating on its prevention.

Below are some resources and tips sheets about how to get the community invovled with the issue of child abuse and neglect, positive parenting and caregiving and how to support Kempe.

As we support Child Abuse Prevention Month, you'll see Denver turn on the blue with ribbons placed around town during April. If you would like to request a blue ribbon for your building or small blue ribbons for employees to wear, please call Kempe at 303-864-5300.

Speak Up for Children - Educate the public about child abuse and neglect

	Engaging the Community The fight against child abuse invovles the entire community. We must work together! These helpful tips will show you how. (136 KB)

Parents and Caregivers

	Helpful Resources Parenting and caregiving is a life-long learning process and no one has all the answers. Asking for help is never a sign of weakness. (472 KB)

Additional Resources for Families

Story of the Blue Ribbon

The Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Campaign had its early beginnings following the death of a very young child. In spring 1989, Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother, received the devastating news that her beloved grandson had died of injuries inflicted by his parents.

In an expression of her grief and outrage, this grandmother did something that has given us a symbol, around which we rally for the cause of child abuse prevention. She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van as a way to remember “the bruised and battered body of her grandson” and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse.

In Bonnie’s own words: “The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder to fight for protection of our children. Please wear a blue ribbon. Put one on your car. Give one to your friends. Tell them what it means. You may save a child’s life!”

The act of one grandmother thousands of miles away leads us to this day. Just think what could happen if each one of us helped spread the word to a few of the people we come in contact with each day.

Donor of the Month