April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the Department of Defense is aligning its efforts across the service branches to ensure child and teen safety in the military community.
This effort is led by the DOD's Family Advocacy Program, which develops policy and resources to prevent abuse, ensure victim safety and provide treatment for those impacted by abuse through advocacy, counseling and educational services that promote healthy relationships and parenting.
To help prevent abuse and neglect, the DOD provides parents with community and peer support through initiatives such as the New Parent Support Program, which offers home visitation services for expectant parents and those who have young children.
The program also connects parents to Thrive, a parenting-education program. Thrive's free, interactive resources promote positive and engaged parenting, as well as stress management and healthy lifestyle practices, which helps prevent child abuse and neglect.
"Parenting is likely the most rewarding and challenging job you'll have," said Patricia Montes Barron, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy. "When your phone is ringing, your child is crying, the dog needs to go out, and your Service member is TDY, the stress can certainly mount up. Parents can get the support they need to enjoy parenthood by using the resources and benefits provided for all phases of parenting."
The DOD's fiscal year 2021 Report on Child Abuse and Neglect and Domestic Abuse in the Military shows that neglect accounted for 52% of the reports on child maltreatment, followed by physical abuse (28%), emotional abuse (16%) and sexual abuse (4%). Every adult in the community can play a role in supporting and protecting children by supporting parents, being a trusted adult for children and teens, and reporting concerns.
