April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, educate ourselves and resolve to take action. Of course, we can do these things all year, but having a month dedicated to this important cause helps spread awareness and protect those who are the most vulnerable in our communities.

“At the Children’s Justice Center, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and heard,” states a recent post on the Utah County Children’s Justice Center Facebook page. The center, which provides a child-friendly atmosphere for children during the investigative process following child abuse, suggests practicing the “3Rs” to protect children and get them the help they need.

Recognize the signs of abuse, even when they aren’t obvious. We often think of signs of abuse as visible bruises or other injuries. But there are many kinds of abuse, including physical, verbal, neglect and sexual. Some warning signs are body complaints, expressions of fear, frequent absences from school, disruptive or age-inappropriate behavior and changes in personal care, such as eating, sleeping or hygiene habits.

Respond if you observe warning signs or have suspicions of child abuse. All children deserve to be treated with respect and kindness and to feel safe. If you do have suspicions, the Children’s Justice Center recommends calling the Division of Child and Family Services at 1-855-323-DCFS. “Utah law requires any person who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse, neglect, or dependency to immediately notify the nearest office of Child and Family Services, a peace officer, or a law enforcement agency. Abuse, neglect, or dependency of a child can be physical, emotional, or sexual,” states dcfs.utah.gov. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Refer for help. “You don’t have to know all the answers, all you have to do is make a call and refer to the authorities,” states the Utah County Children’s Justice Center Facebook page. In fact, you don’t even have to know for sure that someone is being abused. It is the job of the authorities and the judicial system to determine if abuse has actually occurred. It is the job of the rest of us to refer if we suspect abuse.

Protective factors are those factors that help increase the well-being of children and families. Some protective factors against child abuse include nurturing and attachment to others; parents’ knowledge of positive parenting skills and child development; parental resilience; social connections to family members, friends, and others in the community; supports for parents; and social and emotional competence in children.

Parenting is hard work. We can all look out for those who may need our help to ensure that children are safe and nurtured and that families are supported. During this month and every month, we can resolve to treat children with respect and care, look out for signs of abuse and respond and refer if needed.