April is Child Abuse Prevention Month Published April 20, 2016 By Glenn T. Garcia F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The month of April is designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Communities and military installations across the country will be arranging events during this month-long observance to increase awareness and prevent child abuse. Child abuse is one of society’s oldest, most insidious problems. More than one million children are confirmed as victims of maltreatment every year, with three children dying each day as a result of abuse and neglect. Military installations and communities across the country are stepping forward to prevent child abuse by urging everyone to work together to eliminate this serious threat to children. Following the most recent Air Force Fatality Review Board, the noteworthy trends and patterns for at-risk children and families were identified. The top ten factors for at-risk families include: Dirty/cluttered house Recurrent verbal arguments between parents and/or children History of child abuse/neglect Male step-parent or boyfriend who is responsible for childcare Couples together for less than two years Poor communication skills between parents Increasing parental involvement in video gaming or social media An infant under six months of age in the home Financial difficulties Blended family It is important to note that not all families experiencing risk factors will abuse their children. It simply means they may be at an increased risk and it may be helpful to communicate that F.E. Warren offers numerous prevention programs and support services. As a military community, we cannot ignore these potential early warning signs. There are numerous agencies and professionals on the installation and in the local community to help families in distress. The Family Advocacy Program is responsible for providing services and referrals to prevent and address potential child abuse. Each month, Family Advocacy provides training to active duty members and dependents on couples communication, stress and anger management and Love and Logic parent training. Family Advocacy also offers a monthly new fathers instructional workshop for dads who are expecting a child in the family or who have an infant under the age of one. Please contact Family Advocacy at 773-2998 if you have any questions or are interested in available services. To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call Family Advocacy or call 911 if the child is in imminent danger.