{"id":32332,"date":"2018-03-26T16:07:12","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T22:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wwv.group.com\/childrens-ministry\/?p=32332"},"modified":"2019-03-15T15:13:10","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T21:13:10","slug":"child-abuse-prevention-month-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwv.group.com\/childrens-ministry\/blog\/shepherds-watch\/child-abuse-prevention-month-help\/","title":{"rendered":"April is Child Abuse Prevention Month – Here\u2019s How You Can Help"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Each April, <\/strong>Shepherd\u2019s Watch<\/a>\u00a0joins the movement to promote Child Abuse Prevention Month to raise awareness that child abuse is preventable. Shepherd\u2019s Watch<\/a> partners with thousands of churches and organizations to ensure that kids stay safe through training, affordable background check screening, safety information and best practices. Child abuse\u00a0and neglect is 100 percent preventable; we all share in the responsibility to help keep kids\u2014and ministry\u2014safe.<\/p>\n

Throughout the United States, a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.\u00a0Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education. National research suggests that one in four girls and one in six boys are subjected to some form of sexual abuse by 18 years of age.<\/p>\n

Abuse in the ministry setting is often a result of excessive discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate or unnecessary, by untrained teachers placed in an unsupervised role. Training is key to establish proper policies and procedures for those who work with children.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Here are four actions you can take to protect the kids at your church:<\/strong><\/p>\n