Imagine what Wake County would look like if all children felt safe, loved and protected.
Wake County Child Abuse Prevention Plan
What would be different?
Would we have a community in which people encouraged and helped each other through good times and bad?
Would kindness and respect for others go viral?
For the last year, a group of community leaders, parents and representatives from several youth-serving organizations have been striving toward the vision of a safe and stable Wake County as they work together to develop the Wake County Child Abuse Prevention Plan (Wake CAPP).
Child abuse is a reality throughout the United States and right here in our community. A look at national, state and local statistics makes clear why the Wake CAPP is needed.
SAFEchild serves as the backbone organization overseeing the development of Wake CAPP, in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse NC, with support from John Rex Endowment and essential leadership from Wake County Human Services and Wake County Smart Start. Many other organizations are involved in developing the Wake CAPP, including:
The work to develop the Wake CAPP has been divided into four subcomittees, each with a main goal:
- Outreach and Education
Goal: Raise awareness and commitment to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments and prevent child maltreatment
- Data and Community Assets
Goal: Use data to inform actions
- Protective Factors
Goal: Create the context for healthy children and families through norms change and programs
- Policy and Advocacy (Executive Leadership)
Goal: Create the context for healthy children and families through policies
The Protective Factors Framework is an integral component of Wake CAPP. This framework is the foundation of the Strengthening Families Approach developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. Research shows that when these protective factors are well-established in a family, the likelihood of abuse and neglect diminishes as the family grows stronger.
Input and engagement from the community, local businesses and youth-serving orgnizations will be essential to the success of the Wake CAPP.
- Wake CAPP meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30am. We welcome participation from community members concerned about the children and families of Wake County!
- In addition, community cafes are held on a regular basis throughout Wake County to increase awareness and gather input.
Contact Ginger Espino, SAFEchild’s community engagement coordinator, at gespino@safechildnc.org or 919.232.5669, for more information about Wake CAPP, monthly meetings, community cafes, and how you can become involved in ensuring a safe and stable Wake County!
In the state of North Carolina, anyone who suspects a child has been abused or neglected is mandated to report the suspected abuse. Find reporting information HERE.