Why is this important to all of us?

Fact: Children, who are abused, neglected or witness domestic violence, frequently have emotional, cognitive and behavioral problems. These young victims can suffer from depression, suicidal behavior and have difficulty in their schools which often times turns them to the use of drugs, alcohol and sexual activity at an early age. We know that children who are abused or neglected are more likely to repeat the cycle of violence.

Fact: In times of economic stress and deprivation, children are at risk. Rising unemployment rates and state and local budget cuts impact funding, which will place more San Francisco children at risk.

Fact: Over 32% of child abuse reports made in our community concern children under the age of five — our most vulnerable children.

Hello

... and welcome. The Partners in Prevention initiative was launched in 2010. We are individuals united by a desire to increase awareness of the effects of child abuse and neglect and to promote solutions by supporting prevention services within our communities. We are a diverse group of people from all walks of life--business, government and civil society. We are individuals that believe in protecting childhood for children today so they can fulfill their potential as adults tomorrow.

Important Milestones

A growing public awareness for the need to ensure the safety of children led to the 1974 passage of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, the first Federal child protection legislation.
In the early 1980s, Congress recognized the need for innovative programs to prevent child abuse and made a further commitment to identifying and implementing solutions by designating a National Child Abuse Prevention Week. A Presidential Proclamation called upon government agencies and the public to observe the week with appropriate programs and activities.
In 1983 this one-week observance was expanded to one month, the month of April, and in 2003, as part of the 20th anniversary of the original Presidential Proclamation, the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect recast the initiative as a year-long effort. Today, the Child Abuse Prevention Initiative is a call to action for communities to keep children safe and provide the needed support for them to become happy, secure and stable adults.

In the late 1980’s a very personal awareness campaign was conducted by a Virginia grandmother, Bonnie Finney, whose grandson had died as a result of abuse. Ms. Finney tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her car to remember and honor her grandson. She spoke out in her community to alert others of the tragedy of child abuse and the use of the Blue Ribbon has since expanded across the country, embraced by many.

In 2010, Partners in Prevention created a new expression of the Blue Ribbon that includes a red heart signifying hope and empowerment. Our partners wear and display this ribbon as a sign of support for prevention programs that work to end child abuse and neglect through supporting family resilience, empowering children and educating the community.

President Obama’s 2011 Child Abuse Proclamation states, “Although a strong family unit is the best deterrent to child abuse, effectively intervening in the lives of children threatened by abuse is a shared responsibility. Strengthening the bonds within families requires community members and leaders to partner with parents.”**

I thank you for your interest in the meaning of the Blue Ribbon and for taking time to learn more about Partners in Prevention. It doesn’t require a special skill to become a partner, only the desire to protect children. Please consider becoming a partner today.

Sincerely,
Patty Shimek signature
Patty Shimek
Founder of Partners in Prevention

**Read President Barack Obama’s complete 2011 proclamation on National Child Abuse Prevention Month.