National Child Abuse Prevention Month of April Declared in 1983 by Congress…
April 2016…National Child Abuse Awareness…
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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. My journey of healing and awareness has allowed me to thrive under some very tough circumstances while growing up in a post WWII toxic home with parents severely affected by the symptoms of PTSD… I carried the emotional baggage with me as an adult for many decades before realizing it was time to reconcile the pain of my childhood and young adult life. My work with children and families through writing books, this blog, and participating in appropriate forums as a spokesperson is a labor of love, and opportunity to make a difference one child at a time.
Following is a quote from my blog from April 2013, reflecting on the need to participate in your local community to build awareness during this time…
“In this link, Military Kids with PTSD, I posted about my own observations and experience as a military child growing up with parents who suffered severely from the symptoms of PTSD. As a military parent please take extra time to focus on your children. Use not only this month of April…take your increased awareness forward and help kids understand how war affects families of combat veterans, especially children. Use the resources to educate kids with love and kindness. Do not allow the children in your life grow up feeling isolated and alone with the memories that are often painful and misunderstood. As a parent or teacher you can make a huge difference in the lives of kids on this critical issue. We owe it to our children to give them the opportunity to grow up and live a healthy, happy, and productive life…”
Following is another quote from my blog that is worth repeating today regarding the critical need for local community support in the prevention of child abuse…
“Remember the military child! My own memories as a child of a US Navy veteran shows that we can make a difference by including the military families, especially children, in our thoughts. Children of veterans who are deployed for long periods of time often suffer from the challenges war and parental separation bring home. One parent cares for children for long periods while spouses are deployed. Kids often feel isolated and different from their peers. Kids can also feel the emotional numbness that comes from the symptoms of PTSD. Military kids are at risk growing up in a toxic home culture. We can help the children of warriors feel connected by getting them engaged events and activities with peer groups and adult mentors. After-school programs similar to www.neighborsforkids.org in Depoe Bay, Oregon. Take advantage of special events like the Pinwheels of Prevention, which will go along way to make military families and children feel more connected to the community while parents are deployed and in life after war… It would have made a huge difference for me and my siblings during the 40′s and 50′s if we had felt more connected and a part of our community and schools we attended. It was often a confusing and lonely time growing up as a military child. The emotional baggage can stick around for a life time. Take the extra time to pay attention to the military children and families near you who need our support…”
Please become engaged in community events promoting awareness for the prevention of child abuse. If there is not an event planned near you, create one using the resources and references in the links provided in this post…. National Children’s Alliance…
Steve Sparks, Author, My Journey of Healing in Life After Trauma, Part 1&2 and Click the highlighted text for my author page to order books and other stuff on Amazon…Reconciliation: A Son’s Story…
Steve Sparks, Author, Blogger, Child Advocate
