April is Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAP). This month aims to prevent and bring awareness to child abuse and neglect. Many organizations both on and off campus are hosting events and opportunities to shine a light on prevention.
About CAP
Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAP) is in the month of April. During this month, many organizations like Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA), the Dayton CARE House, For Love of Children (FLOC) and others come together for one common goal: bringing awareness to and preventing child abuse.
Child abuse comes in many different forms. Children can be physically, sexually or emotionally abused as well as neglected. Growing up with these negative conditions are referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
When this trauma is prolonged, it negatively impacts the child’s brain development, causing harm to the child while growing up as well as in their future. It is essential to stop the abuse before it happens.
PCAA
PCAA is an organization currently active in 38 states. Their main goal is to prevent child abuse. One of their key aspects to reaching this goal is Healthy Families America, which is a free home visiting program for families in need.
“With over 600 sites across the country, HFA provides trusted support to parents and caregivers—from pregnancy through early childhood—offering parenting resources, mental health referrals and connection to community services. This direct support is a powerful way we help families thrive,” Irmes Dagba-Craven, senior communications manager at PCAA, said.
For PCAA, CAP month is of great importance. Dagba-Craven explains how it is an opportunity to remind the community that preventing child abuse is a shared responsibility, not just one for professionals or those who have kids. By coming together and recognizing that this problem is one that everyone can help tackle, differences can be made in children's lives.
“Rather than waiting for harm to happen, we can strengthen families before a crisis occurs—by creating the kinds of environments where children and families can flourish,” Dagba-Craven said.
Support on campus
The support for CAP month is prevalent within the Wright State University community. Particularly within the school’s College Panhellenic Sororities.
Kappa Delta is a prime example of this. With one of their philanthropies being Prevent Child Abuse America (PCAA), the chapter takes this month very seriously. Emma Bemis, the Vice President of Events and Programming, has planned a variety of events this month for her chapter and the general public in order to support CAP month.
On April 25, the sorority will be hosting a PCAA night at the WSU baseball game. The game will start at 3 p.m. and the girls will be spreading information on PCAA and the Dayton CARE House as well as collecting donations for both of the organizations.
In addition to the baseball game, the sorority will also be partnering with ReyRey Cafe on campus, having their own drink of the week. The drink will be inspired by PCAA and will raise awareness to the importance of the month. The Kappa Delta drink will be available at ReyRey Cafe from April 21-April 26.
Bemis stressed the importance of participating in these events on campus.
“The more people that are behind supporting child abuse prevention, the more children we are keeping safe. “
Kappa Delta is not the only sorority working to raise awareness for child abuse prevention. One of Alpha Xi Delta philanthropies is For Love of Children (FLOC), an organization that strives to give every child an opportunity to succeed within their schooling.
While working with FLOC, Alpha Xi Delta’s chapter president Lacey Hamrick has learned a lot about how to not only support children in bad situations, but also to recognize when they are happening.
“You have to really focus. It’s not always the loud ones who act up that are being abused, but also the quiet ones,” Hamrick expressed.
The sorority just held their annual philanthropy event, Roller Disco. The proceeds of the event went to FLOC.
What you can do
There are a variety of ways you can participate in preventing child abuse, not only during this month but every day.
“No matter what, anyone can help protect a child,” Hamrick said.
Go to the events held by the sororities on campus. Ask engaging questions and educate yourself on the matter. Become confident in signs to look for, as well as how you can intervene.
“It's important to approach any concern with empathy and take action if you suspect abuse—by reporting it to your local child protective services or law enforcement agency,” Dagba-Craven said.
To show your support, paint pinwheels blue and put them in your yard. You can also wear blue throughout the month of April, specifically on April 8. Post on social media using the hashtags #CAPMonth2025 and #PoweredByHope, and tag PCAA at @PCAAmerica.
For hands on help, you can volunteer with FLOC or donate to PCAA.
Anything and everything you do to bring awareness can make a meaningful impact.
“Child abuse prevention is not just bringing awareness to the fact that it happens; it is learning, acknowledging the signs, and speaking up that come with child abuse prevention and how we can keep children safe moving forward,” Bemis said.
