Children deserve great childhoods. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, and Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii wants everyone to be a part of protecting all of our state’s children. April is a particular time for action on behalf of children and families.

We can all agree that child abuse is a problem that needs to be solved in our state and in our nation. How can you be a part of the solution?

Each of us has a role to play in keeping children safe and helping families to be strong. Child abuse prevention is the role of friends, family, teachers, child care workers, health care professionals, coaches, babysitters and others who work with children every day.

It is the role of business leaders, advocates, public policy makers and all of us to be a part of the solution.

You can speak up for a child who may be in harm’s way; you can be a mentor to a child or a parent. Help a family in your neighborhood by making them dinner, helping a child with their homework or be a sympathetic listener. You can be an advocate for family-friendly policies, be a volunteer in a school or with a community program.

You can donate your time, energy and money to organizations that are working with children, youth and families. Prevention programs need your help and support, too. Each of these actions increase the protective factors that reduce and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii knows that certain activities and strategies work to reduce and prevent abuse and neglect. For example, we know that family support programs can improve family self-sufficiency, setting children and parents up for future success. We know that having stable, caring adults in a child’s life means that the child is more likely to succeed and persevere even in the face of adversity.

Being an active participant in helping families is prevention in action.

Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii invites and encourages everyone to be a part of the many activities and events that are taking place throughout the month of April statewide.

We and our partners on the Child Abuse Prevention Planning Council are planting pinwheel gardens this month on the state Capitol lawn and throughout the state to show our commitment to protecting Hawaii’s children and for working together to provide them with the great childhoods they deserve.

Children in Hawaii deserve happy, healthy childhoods. It is up to all of us to help make that a reality. Preventing child abuse is a team effort. Please become involved and contribute your time, energy and money to the work.

Aileen Deese is executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii.