Child Sexual Abuse Prevention/Education

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

As spring arrives—with warmer days and new beginnings—it also marks an important time for awareness and action. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to come together as a community to protect and support our children.

The Prevention & Education team at Fair Haven RCC has been actively working throughout the school year to empower young people with knowledge and tools to stay safe. During the 2025–2026 academic year, we have reached more than 60 schools and provided prevention education to 33,518 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Beyond the classroom, we continue to engage with families and community members through events in April and throughout the summer. Most recently, we participated in the Lake County Safe Kids event, where approximately 1,600 attendees joined to learn practical ways to keep children safe. From water safety and healthy habits to body boundaries and proper use of safety equipment like helmets and car seats, families were eager to learn and connect.

Opportunities like these allow us to have meaningful conversations with parents and caregivers, hear their concerns, and share simple but powerful strategies to help protect children. These moments of connection are at the heart of prevention.

We also visit middle and high school career fairs to introduce students to the field of prevention and advocacy. While this work can be challenging, it is incredibly rewarding to help shape a future generation that values safety, awareness, and compassion.

While education and awareness are making a difference, the reality is that child abuse remains a serious issue. According to national data:

• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience child sexual abuse
• 91% of abuse is committed by someone known to the child or their family

Locally, in Lake County, recent reports show:

• 85 substantiated cases of abuse and neglect
• 543 unsubstantiated cases still requiring attention and care

These numbers remind us why prevention matters.

By continuing these conversations year after year, we hope to empower more children to recognize unsafe situations and feel confident reaching out to a trusted adult.

How you can help:
Prevention starts with all of us. You can make a difference by:

• Supporting organizations that provide prevention education
• Talking openly with children about safety and boundaries
• Listening and responding with care when a child speaks up

Our program provides prevention education to students from Kindergarten through 12th grade at no cost to schools. Our goal is simple but powerful: to ensure every child has access to the knowledge they need to stay safe.

Together, we can create a community where every child feels safe, heard, and protected.