April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time when communities across the globe recognize the importance of safeguarding our children. But awareness alone isn’t enough. We must also act, and act wisely.
Safe & Sound co-leads the Child Abuse Prevention Council in Marin which helps prevent child abuse through community education, training, and promotion of policies and services that help support families and children before harm occurs.
The Council has recently released its “2024 Marin County Kids Community Report” which paints a sobering picture. You can read the data online here.
Dr. Pegah Faed, Safe & Sound CEO, collaborated with our co-lead of the Child Abuse Prevention Council in Marin, Robin Bowen, MHSA, Executive Director of the Child Parent Institute, to publish a piece for the Marin Independent Journal. In the article, they explain that in order to protect children, we must build systems of care that are not just reactive, but proactive, equitable and guided by those with firsthand knowledge.
As they explain, lived experience (sometimes called lived expertise), the deep, practical knowledge that comes from personally navigating the child welfare system, can offer unique insights into what support systems truly help, what barriers cause harm and what services work in support of families to prevent the likelihood of abuse or neglect. The article therefore champions placing lived experience at the heart of child welfare reform, so that we can build systems of care that not only protect children but also strengthen families, restore dignity, and create lasting change. You can read the full article online here.