April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. For CASA DuPage and more than 900 CASA organizations around the country, child abuse prevention is our priority every day.

Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the United States each year. Children under the age of one year have the highest level of victimization, and children growing up in households with domestic violence and drug abuse are at the highest risk of abuse and neglect in their homes.

Preventing child abuse starts with recognizing the importance of strengthening families in our community.

Establishing economic support, positive parenting education and quality child care are cited by the Centers for Disease Control as the most effective child abuse prevention strategies.

This month, CASA of DuPage County tied blue ribbons at the entrance to the DuPage County courthouse and posted signage sharing the Department of Children and Family Services hotline number.

CASA representatives were joined by DuPage County Chief Judge Kenneth Popejoy, along with juvenile court judges Anthony Coco and Brian Jacobs, probate court judge James Orel, and Ann Celine Walsh, presiding judge of Specialty and Juvenile Courts Division.

The Blue Ribbon Campaign began in the spring of 1989 when Bonnie Finney of Virginia tied a ribbon on her car to acknowledge the loss of her 3-year-old grandson who was a victim of abuse. She encouraged her neighbors to do the same to bring her community together to protect children. The blue ribbon has been the national symbol for child abuse prevention ever since.

CASA of DuPage County encourages everyone in the community to play a role in keeping children safe. Join the effort and tie a blue ribbon to a tree in your neighborhood or wear one on your lapel. Most importantly, if you see something that you think is just not right related to the safety of a child, call the DCFS hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE.

Other ways you can show your support this month:

• Be a positive and nurturing parent or caregiver and help others do the same.

• Make children in your life a priority, assuring they are in safe and healthy environments.

• Wear a blue ribbon during the month of April to show your support.

• Call the DCFS hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE, if you suspect abuse or neglect.

• Follow DuPage CASA on social media:Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn,Instagram.

“We express our sincerest gratitude to the entire DuPage County cmmunity for participating in this important campaign and supporting our vision that every child deserves a safe, permanent and nurturing home,” said Suzanne Skala, CASA of DuPage County executive director.

CASA of DuPage County is a nonprofit, community organization supporting children who have been abused or neglected by recruiting and training volunteer advocates to speak to their best interests in the court and in the community.

The organization has 159 trained community volunteers who are actively advocating for more than 350 children annually.

Learn more about CASA of DuPage County programs by visitingwww.dupagecasa.org.