Protecting April’s Most Precious Bloom

April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month.

The most important thing we can do as citizens is to help care for the children in our communities. That means we must be willing to shine a light on the struggles many children face behind closed doors.

Intimate Partner Violence, or IPV, affects everyone, including our youngest. Studies conducted in Ohio have shown that IPV leads to substantial economic losses and a tragic decline in the physical and emotional well-being of our state’s kids.

The research also shows that both direct and indirect exposure to IPV can lead to limited educational and employment attainment. That makes IPV a long-term societal challenge that must be addressed.

The work of Bethany House, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, and other violence intervention programs is crucial to reducing the devastating impact of IPV on adult and youth victims, as well as the community costs associated with the problem.

Domestic violence abusers cost Lucas County $40 million dollars a year, and $4 million of this is related to the safety nets of child welfare and shelter services.  Overall, in Ohio, the negative economic impact of Intimate Partner Violence is more than $1.2 Billion per year.

Domestic violence impacts all of us and harms kids more than you may realize, affecting them now and well into the future. But there’s hope in awareness. When we understand how deeply domestic violence impacts the well-being of children, we can start building stronger, safer communities.

Let’s stand together for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Whether you’re a parent, a friend or just someone who wants to help, you can make a difference.

Want to learn more?

Click https://bethanyhousetoledo.org/ways-to-help/ to explore resources, and some small ways you can make a big impact.