Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, so you will see a lot of blue pinwheels, the symbol of prevention efforts, scattered around the landscape.  Many organizations are using this event to showcase their prevention resources, so this is also a good month for you to take advantage of those materials.

A few of the many groups that offer excellent resources include: American Camp Association,  Prevent Child Abuse America, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Boy Scouts of America,  Darkness to Light and the National Children's Advocacy Center.

Youth Organization Spotlight: Kate's Club

Atlanta-based youth organization Kate's Club (and the passion of one my law partners, Emily Horn) is dedicated to helping children who have experienced the loss of a family member or caregiver.  Spring marks the beginning of a series of holidays that, while happy occasions for some, can be very difficult for others – particularly those grieving the loss of a loved one. An estimated 40,000 children in the Atlanta area have experienced the death of a sibling or parent, and Sibling’s Day in April, Mother’s Day in May, and Father’s Day in June certainly look and feel different when a loved one is not there to celebrate.

With this in mind, Kate’s Club aims to provide additional support and bring families together during these difficult times of the year for programs called Holiday H.U.G.S. – which stands for Healing, Understanding, and Giving Support. An Atlanta nonprofit, Kate’s Club is open to all children and teens, ages 5-18, who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver at some point in their lifetime. Kate’s Club services are provided at no cost and, in addition to Holiday H.U.G.S., include monthly day-long support service programs, quarterly outings, and a weekend camp.

For more information about Kate’s Club, please visit http://katesclub.org/.