American Humane Association Offers Practical Information to End Child Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

DENVER, April 4, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Throughout National Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, the American Humane Association joins with thousands of other child welfare advocates to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. American Humane believes in the strength of a community to help raise a child and offers these tips and guidelines for those who want to do their part to help make a positive impact on the life of a child:

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-- Be objective and supportive. Remember that most parents want to be good parents but may need additional help, encouragement and guidance.

-- Be an active listener. Do not blame, accuse or make judgments about family members or their situations.

-- Offer your support in any way in which you feel comfortable. Families in challenging situations can greatly benefit from social support, which could include anything from babysitting to carpooling to just offering to listen.

-- Depending on the nature of your relationship with the child or family, your caring actions are just as important to strengthening families as they are to supporting child safety.

-- Become an involved member of your community and inform yourself about the reporting laws in your state.

-- If you are really worried, contact your local Department of Human Services or law enforcement and let them know your concerns. Sometimes, that is all it takes to help a family get the support or services they need.

-- Don't let uneasiness about reporting suspected abuse or neglect interfere with your taking the proper steps for the well-being of a child. To overcome any reservations about becoming involved, consider that the consequences of not reporting your concerns to child welfare professionals could be seriously detrimental to a child's safety.

-- All states have laws that protect reporters of child abuse and neglect from legal liability as long as the reports are made in good faith.

-- Remember, kids are counting on us to do our part.

For more information about American Humane's Children's Division, visit http://www.americanhumane.org/children.

About American Humane

Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link(R) between violence to people and violence to animals, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane's regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the "No Animals Were Harmed"(R) end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane's office in Washington, D.C., is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. American Humane meets the strong, comprehensive standards of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, has been awarded the Independent Charities of America's "Best in America" Seal of Approval, and has received a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's leading charity evaluator. Visit http://www.americanhumane.org to learn more.