National Child Abuse Prevention Month-6 Creative Ways You Can Contribute

Guest Author: Marcus Carter
Nineteen year old Marcus Carter, bullied severely throughout his early school years, is a strong anti-bullying advocate dedicated to decreasing teen suicide and depression rates in the United States. He personally knows many teens who have tried to take their own lives and  believes it is not ok for someone to hate themselves so much that they feel this is the only way. Marcus aims to help as many people as possible through raising awareness that bullying is a serious issue happening daily in our schools and communities. Marcus is an active supporter of American SPCC and their mission to give kids a voice not only during Child Abuse Prevention month, but all year long. He encourages everyone in America to stand up and do what’s right for children. He believes if we all come together, we can make a big change!
Here, he shares with us his 6 Creative Ways You Can Contribute during National Child Abuse Prevention Month

National Child Abuse Prevention Month-6 Creative Ways You Can Contribute

It’s April, a time for growth and new beginnings. It’s also the month dedicated to Child Abuse Prevention, a time to raise awareness and explore ways that we can work together to help end the epidemic of child abuse in America.
Have you thought of any ways to make a change in your community? In your household? With peers or with family members? Spring is a great time to implement positive changes in the world around you. If you’re wondering how you can contribute, check out these creative ideas. Remember that any small positive change can make a big impact in a child’s life so get your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers involved. Change happens when we all take action!
Ways to Contribute

1. If you have children, show support and be there for them!

This is a simple and effective way to make a positive change. It is very easy to be upset at your child for not doing well at school, misbehaving at home or even talking back to you without understanding why they may be acting this way. Maybe they feel some sort of detachment from you or maybe they have problems going on at school? Maybe they are dealing with some big emotions and need your support and guidance? There are many possible things that could be going on in their lives that you may need to be aware of. The best way to know is to talk to your children. Tell them that you love them and care for them. Instead of asking how school was, ask them what positive and negative things happened at school each day. It is much more effective and will create a deeper bond between parent and child. If your child did something out of character, think about why your child may have acted this way. Try to see things from their point of view and offer them any help or support that they may need.

2. Raise awareness about child abuse on social media

Sharing a few posts about statistics, facts, and other information on social media can keep a lot of people informed about an issue that they may be unfamiliar about. Visit the Child Abuse /child-abuse-topics/  section of our website for useful information and resources, and share it with people you believe may need to be informed. If the information is for yourself to gain extra knowledge, great! Learning what child abuse is, how to recognize the signs and how to report it, could save a child’s life!

3. Spread the word through your community

Talk to your friends, family members, neighbors, teachers, fellow parents and others about child abuse and how to prevent it. By educating and encouraging others to speak out, you can come together to help fight child abuse in your community. It’s so important that we stand up and SPREAD THE WORD!

4. Volunteer and Get Involved

Volunteering is a great way to contribute to a cause that you care about. American SPCC offers many ways to get involved including: volunteering, sharing your story, donating, advocating, taking the pledge, shopping their book library and so much more. There are many wonderful ways to make a positive change, click here to learn all of the ways that you can TAKE ACTION today!  /get-involved/

5. Donate/Fundraise

Donating and raising funds are a great way to support the cause. Host a bake sale, garage sale, a raffle or an event in your community. Involve your kids and use your imagination to come up with other creative ways to fundraise. They will have a great time selling lemonade or collecting pledges to participate in a fun family walk or other adventure. It all begins with you, your time and your talents.

6. Monthly Challenge/Daily Objective

Set your own monthly challenge or daily objective and perform these tasks successfully! It could be donating $1 a day, sharing information on social media or bringing a coffee to work instead of buying one and donating the money that you saved to charity.
Just 17 cents helps one person, imagine the big difference you can make!
An example of a weekly challenge is:
    Week 1: Share 5 posts about child abuse prevention.
    Week 2: Raise $100 through donating and/or starting a fundraiser and help.
                         588 people
    Week 3: Talk to 10 friends or family members about ways that they can help
                         prevent child abuse.
    Week 4: Volunteer 1 hour a day to help a child in need.

Your goal can be anything that you would like to achieve. The options are endless!  
Small but meaningful daily objectives are another great way to participate. By making a point to ask your child what good things happened at school everyday or spending more time with your children, you can make a big impact on their lives.
Let’s hear your ideas on you plan to GET INVOLVED  /get-involved/ for National Child Abuse Prevention Month!
Just remember, it is up to you to make a change. Are you up for the challenge?

American SPCC encourages you to join us as we help create a brighter future for kids.  Through advocacy and help resources we create real impact in families and communities. Kid’s need our voice like never before!  TAKE ACTION and start making a positive difference in the life of a child.
There are so many ways that you can be a hero! 
About the author
Marcus Carter, a 19-year-old college freshman in pursuit of becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, was bullied during his early school years. At the tender age of 5, he often stood in front of the mirror questioning his existence, asking himself why he looked the way he did and why couldn’t someone else take his place.  School became especially hard for him due to excessive bullying and name calling. Eventually, he no longer wanted to attend school and felt he did not have a safe place to go. Homelife was just as hard, feeling that he never did anything right. Soon the name calling took its toll and Marcus started to believe the words that people said. This led to a state of depression, of which he still relates to today. Marcus suffers from low self-esteem, which he works on daily to regain. He is an active volunteer advocate against bullying, teen depression and suicide. As a future Clinical Counselor, Marcus hopes to help others overcome their personal trials and tribulations and encourage them to find their strength and confidence in the face of adversity.  
You can read more of his writing and his letter ¨Dear Future Self¨ here ( link – /testimonial/dear-future-self/)