Prevent Child Abuse Florida kicks off Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign

2025 campaign emphasizes: “Happy and healthy children have parents who feel supported” 

TALLAHASSEE — Today marks the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month and Prevent Child Abuse Florida is joining in on the celebration. Throughout the month, organizations and partners around the state will display pinwheels and host events to celebrate and support strengthening families. The blue and silver pinwheels symbolize happy, healthy childhoods. 

"This month, our campaign focuses on normalizing the idea of asking for help as a parent,” said Prevent Child Abuse Florida Executive Director Chesley Richardson. “We want to emphasize that it is OK to look for support from the people around you and from your community. Research has shown that building a network of support gives families the chance to thrive. We will continue to advocate for prevention and early intervention throughout Florida’s communities.” 

This year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month theme is “Happy and healthy children have parents who feel supported.” The campaign highlights the fact that children thrive when they have caregivers with real-world support systems. The goal is to emphasize that, in addition to their children, parents have needs, too. Prevent Child Abuse Florida's Child Abuse Prevention Month toolkit is available at www.preventchildabusefl.org. Organizations, partners, and families can download materials for free to help spread awareness for prevention. Pinwheels, t-shirts, and lapel pins are available for purchase on the website as well.  

Prevent Child Abuse Florida was chartered in August 2003 as the 39th chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. The chapter provides prevention resources and early intervention services to families across the state of Florida. Circle of Parents® and Period of PURPLE Crying® are two of Prevent Child Abuse Florida’s major programs that highlight the importance of parental support and promoting the prevention of abuse and neglect. Florida Circle of Parents provides a friendly, supportive environment led by parents and other caregivers. These meetings allow anyone in a parenting role to openly discuss the successes and challenges of raising children. The groups are free, confidential, and non-judgmental. Additionally, Period of PURPLE Crying is an educational program that teaches parents about the phase of increased, intense crying during a newborn's development. In addition to these programs, Prevent Child Abuse Florida provides information and statewide public awareness campaigns on hot car safety, water safety, and safe infant sleep. 

The next event to celebrate prevention is Wear Blue Day, which falls on Friday, April 4. People nationwide are encouraged to wear blue to champion prevention efforts in communities across the country. Participants can share their support on social media by posting a photo wearing blue and including the hashtag #WearBlueDayFL2025.

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About the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida and Prevent Child Abuse Florida 

The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida is a private nonprofit that identifies, funds, supports, and tests innovative programs to improve the life outcomes of children, preserve and strengthen families, and promote healthy behavior and functioning in society, recognizing that the wisest money spent is on prevention. Using proven evidence-based strategies, programs focus on improving educational achievement; improving maternal and child health outcomes; promoting health, nutrition, and physical activity; building strong families; and helping keep communities drug-free. Learn about the Florida Children's Initiatives and Innovation Initiatives on the website. 

The Ounce of Prevention Fund houses the Florida chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. The chapter implements primary prevention activities and advocates for policies and initiatives to strengthen Florida's families and communities so children can grow and develop through healthy, safe, and nurturing experiences.

The Ounce of Prevention Fund administers Healthy Families Florida, a nationally accredited voluntary home visiting program proven to prevent child abuse and neglect by building on family strengths to promote healthy child development and family self-sufficiency. The Healthy Families Florida program has helped thousands of children by empowering parents with education and community support.

To learn more about the Ounce of Prevention Fund, the safe infant sleep materials, water safety campaign, the team's Research, Evaluation, and Systems capabilities, and the Training Institute, visit www.ounce.org.