Join us in April for Child Abuse Prevention Month

Join us in raising awareness about child abuse and how to prevent it. Here are some ways you can get involved:

1. Plant a Virtual Pinwheel

Show your support for Child Abuse Prevention Month by planting a pinwheel in our virtual garden. You can donate in honor of or in memory of a loved one. All donations made now through the end of April will receive a virtual pinwheel that will stay up all year.

2. Download the Calendar

This fun and helpful calendar will give you ideas of an activity for each day in April to participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month. Print it out, save it digitally, or check out our Facebook and Instagram stories for daily activities!

3. Download the Pinwheel Coloring Sheet

This coloring sheet provides information about identifying abuse and neglect in child appropriate language in a fun coloring sheet.

4. Observe Blue Sunday in Your Faith Community

Blue Sunday is the last Sunday in April (April 25th this year), where faith communities commit to praying during the service for victims of child abuse and those who rescue them. Ask your faith leaders to participate in their services and/or request someone from CASA to speak.

5. Donate to a Local Domestic Violence Shelter

As you begin your spring cleaning, consider donating your gently used household items and children's toys to a local domestic violence shelter. Always call first to see what is accepted and needed.

6. Become a CASA Volunteer

When COVID-19 hit and schools closed, our referrals from the court went down drastically. Now that things are opening back up, our cases are rising. We need volunteers urgently to be trained and ready when these cases come in.

Learn more at an upcoming information session.

7. Support Child Abuse Prevention with Coffee

Mission House Coffee is highlighting CASA of Central VA as their “charity of the month” for the month of April. Be sure that you “round up” for CASA when you enjoy something delicious from one of their two locations. They will also be holding a small business vendor market on April 24 at their downtown location and the proceeds from the tickets sold are going to CASA!

8. Support Child Abuse Prevention with Jewelry

Grace Marie Jewelry is partnering with CASA of Central Virginia during Child Abuse Prevention Month in a very generous way.  They will donate the proceeds from the sale of all watch batteries during the month of April to CASA of Central VA as well as hold a special shopping day on April 28 where a percentage of the proceeds go to CASA. 

9. Report Suspected Abuse

Keeping children safe by supporting families and reporting suspected abuse or neglect is everyone’s responsibility. This call to action is not just for families and those who work on behalf of children; rather, it is the sounding of an alarm to the mail carrier, delivery person, grocery store clerk, pastor, drug store cashier, teacher, and next-door neighbor. Will you join us in keeping a watchful eye on our children? ChildHelp National Child Abuse hotline: 1-800-422-4453