Wear Blue Month – April, 2016
What Your Club Can Do To Help Prevent Child Abuse
by DG Ed Stiles (2-S1)
In April of 2016, the Lions of Texas will be partnering with the Prevent Child Abuse Texas organization to promote Child Abuse Prevention Month and shine a light on the frightening number of child abuse cases in our great state, and put into action some things Lions can do to help prevent it from continuing.
The promotion, propelled by the active participation of hundreds of Lions Clubs across Texas, should generate a huge groundswell of publicity with multiple implications – increasing awareness of child abuse to millions of Texans, generating interest among other service-minded citizens, and informing the general public about who we Lions are and what we do.
So, how can your club get involved? Here are a few ideas…
“Pinwheels for Prevention” Campaign
As the new symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention, the pinwheel is an uplifting reminder of childhood and the bright futures all children deserve. This national campaign is an effort to change the way our nation thinks about prevention and how we can deliver on our commitment to America’s children.
The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign can be promoted in many different ways. Pinwheels can be carried, given out at events, planted as a lawn display, lined up along a sidewalk or pathway, or used in any number of ways to raise awareness of child abuse prevention and the promise that every child deserves to be raised in a safe and nurturing home. Several sources for the purchase of pinwheels are available on the internet.
Other Opportunities
Wear blue. Ask your club members to wear blue clothing at every opportunity during the month of April. Have volunteers make simple blue Prevent Child Abuse ribbons for club members, give more to others in the community, and wear them every day in April.
Schedule a club event with a speaker on child abuse prevention. Invite local dignitaries, the press and the public to attend. Put PSA’s out to all the media to generate interest. Make sure you have a club information table, manned by Lions from your club to provide information on your club’s activities, brochures about Lionism (free from Lions Clubs International), and applications to join.
Participate in a walk. Two annual walks in April are the ‘Round Rock Walk for Children’ and the ‘Walk The Woodlands for Children’. Encourage your club to sponsor a walk in your own town. Make sure you have a club information table, as discussed above.
Encourage your members to be on the alert for abusive situations in your community – not just in April, but at all times. Report suspected abuse or neglect. If anyone has reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, have them immediately call the local Child Protective Services (CPS) agency or call 911.
Identify people in your area who could use a break from parenting. Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand to take care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or spend time together.
Challenge your club to get more involved in your community. Ask your community leaders, clergy, library and schools to develop services to meet the needs of healthy children and families. Strong, healthy families are less likely to be involved in child abuse.
Assign a committee or a group of member volunteers to help in developing parenting resources at your local library. Ask them to determine whether your local library has parenting resources, and if it does not, offer help to obtain some.
Have your club promote abuse prevention programs in your local schools. Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.
Encourage Lions club members to volunteer at a local child abuse prevention program if one exists. For information about volunteer opportunities, go to the Prevent Child Abuse Texas website (www. preventchildabusetexas.org) and click on the Volunteers tab, or call 1-800-CHILDREN.