Santa Clara County Recognizes April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – The County of Santa Clara recognizes April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. The partnership between the County, the community, and families is critical to keeping children safe, supporting families, and preventing child abuse and neglect. To create awareness about the importance of this partnership and the shared commitment to protect children and strengthen families, the County hosted a flag-raising ceremony today at the County Government Center in San José. 

"Communities must build a positive future together, one centered on collaboration, prevention and partnership,” said Board President Otto Lee. "By joining forces, we can create an ecosystem of prevention that offers our families with the right support at the right time, before a crisis arises.” 

Our goal is to provide parents and caregivers with the resources, support, knowledge, and skills they need to keep children safe and foster healthy childhood development and resilience. Child abuse and neglect prevention services and resources must be culturally responsive with a focus on child safety and family healing and be available to all families across the county.

“The safety of our children is a shared responsibility. Each of us, in our own roles must take personal responsibility for ensuring our kids have positive childhood experiences, safe homes and childcare, and that families have the resources they need to thrive,” said Supervisor Sylvia Arenas. “We must pair critical improvements in our system of care with deepening our commitment to addressing the root causes such as poverty, intergenerational trauma, as well as systemic racism and social inequity.”

“Child abuse is one of the most devastating and far-reaching public health crises we face. It affects families across all backgrounds—no matter their income, education, race, or religion," said Supervisor Susan Ellenberg. "Abuse isn’t just physical. It includes emotional harm, neglect, rejection, and inappropriate behavior—leaving lifelong scars and often continuing across generations.”

Throughout Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, the Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) in the County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency and the Child Abuse Prevention Council are working together to build a narrative of hope – one that focuses on collaboration, prevention, and community partnership. 

“The Department of Family and Children’s Services, in collaboration with our county partners and community-based agencies, is committed to serving children and families and to providing them with the support and resources needed to keep them strong,” said DFCS Acting Director Wendy Kinnear-Rausch. “We strive to create opportunities where all children and youth – regardless of ethnic or cultural background – are safe, and young adults, families, and communities are thriving.” 

Surrounding children with healthy relationships at home, school, and in the community not only prevents child abuse but enhances healthy child and adult development. Additionally, community and County collaboration to reduce poverty, homelessness, racism and bigotry, intimate partner violence, and children’s exposure to violence in all its forms is fundamentally important to the wellbeing of our entire community. 

“Let’s commit to action,” said Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga. “Whether through advocacy, volunteerism or simply checking in on families in our community, we can all be part of the solution. That’s what National Child Abuse Prevention Month calls us to do.”

CHILD ABUSE REPORTING IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY

The Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS) operates a Child Abuse and Neglect Center (CANC) that screens calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. To report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, call (833) SCC–KIDS / (833) 722-5437.  

To learn more about the impact of child abuse in Santa Clara County: https://capc.santaclaracounty.gov/child-abuse/effects-child-abuse-neglect-and-domestic-violence

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About the County of Santa Clara, California 

The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, California, making it more populous than 14 states in the U.S. The County provides essential services to its residents, including public health protection, environmental stewardship, medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and many other public benefits.

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