April is designated National Child Abuse Prevention Month in the United States since 1983. It is an annual observance in dedicating raising awareness and preventing child abuse. Former President Obama continued the tradition and in 2016, issued a Presidential proclamation stating: “During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we recommit to giving every child a change to succeed and to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment that is free from abuse and neglect.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, communities should rededicate themselves to being supportive of families and play an active role in preventing child abuse and neglect as well as taking a positive action to promote child and family well-being.
On April 5, 2017, the late Mr. Alex Cloud (egap), former Vice Chairman, signed and designated April as, “Southern Ute April Child Abuse Prevention Month”:
WHEREAS, children on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation have a right to a safe, thriving, and growing environment so they can reach their full potential and benefit their generation and the next; and
WHEREAS, child abuse, neglect and the observation of violence can create adverse childhood experiences that can lead to emotional, psychological, and physical issues that can affect a child’s quality of life, and
WHEREAS, the community members can come together and create a strong healthy support system by: providing safe and nurturing homes free from violence, neglect, and abuse; providing a Helfand to children and families in need; providing safe child-friendly events and activities outside the home; and by breaking the historical trauma cycle; and
WHEREAS, violence against children can be prevented by supporting and strengthening our community and making meaningful partnerships with our families, schools, and organizations, within the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and with the Town of Ignacio; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe is committed to child abuse education and supports and recognizes the importance of dedicating a month to prevent and to raise awareness of the impacts of child abuse.
NOW, THEREFORE, in recognition of the foregoing, the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council proclaims each month of April, from this day forward as, CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH for the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, and supports safe nurturing environments for our children to grow in. The Tribal Council encourages our community members to value the safety of our children and to give support to individuals and organizations providing services to our children and families.
The Division of Social Services invites the community and Tribal employees to demonstrate their support against child abuse for the month of April:
1. Pick up a pinwheel at the DSS office to show commitment against child abuse and hang in your office or on your lawn. In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign. What our research showed, and what our experiences since then have reinforced, is that people respond positively to pinwheels, which represent childlike whimsy and lightheartedness and our vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.
2. Pick up a pin or keychain from DSS office to demonstrate HOPE for those who have survived child abuse.
3. Wear BLUE on Fridays to show your support against child abuse!
4. Participate in our annual CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS COLOR RUN, on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Piinu Nuuchi Skate Park. Registration begins at 3:00 p.m., event starts at 4:00 p.m.
For pinwheels, keychains, and pins, please contact Tess at 563-2332 (attached are items DSS is giving away in April).
