For Immediate Release
April 1, 2015
To: News Desk
From: Kristie Lindau, Director of Communications; , 419-535-3232
The National Exchange Club and Prevent Child Abuse America Partner to Promote Great Childhoods during Child Abuse Prevention Month
Local chapters, centers of both organizations are working together and holding events during Child Abuse Prevention Month
CITY, STATE – Two leading national organizations are teaming up during April to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month by promoting the great childhoods that all children deserve and the stable, nurturing communities that contribute to them.
The National Exchange Club and Prevent Child Abuse America are dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect before it ever occurs. Across the country, local-level Exchange Clubs and Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers are partnering with Prevent Child Abuse state chapters in an effort to raise awareness of prevention, offer solutions – such as parenting tips and expanded childcare – and maximize the impact being made at the local community level.
"Prevent Child Abuse America is a national champion for great childhoods for all children, and we work actively to prevent child abuse before it can occur," said James M. Hmurovich, President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. "We are proud to partner with The National Exchange Club because it too is actively dedicated to promoting the well-being of all children and to working toward the kind of solutions that not only prevent child abuse and neglect, but help create more stable and nurturing experiences for children"
"The National Exchange Club adopted the prevention of child abuse as its National Project in 1979 and has since worked toward preventing child abuse before it even happens,” said Tracey Edwards, Executive Vice President of The National Exchange Club. “Exchange has a proud history of helping families adopt positive parenting skills through theExchange Parent Aidehome visitation model; and, we are pleased to collaborate with Prevent Child Abuse America, an organization equally dedicated to fostering healthy families and strong communities committed to the prevention of child abuse.”
One of the ways The National Exchange Club works to prevent child abuse and neglect is through its "Positive Parenting Tips". This year, Exchange is providing guidance to help identify and prevent peer bullying, identify safe childcare providers, and promote internet safety.
"We all play a role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect, and as The National Exchange Club has rightly pointed out, helping to improve access to safe and stable childcare is one great way to play that role," said Hmurovich. "By volunteering to staff a before-school program or by coaching an after-school sports team or scholastic club, individuals can help increase the childcare opportunities available to working parents and thereby help reduce stress, one of the main contributors to child abuse and neglect."
"There are countless ways that families and communities can work together to help keep children safe, both in the home and in the public arena," said Edwards. "As emphasized by Prevent Child Abuse America, we all have a responsibility to protect America’s youth and the ability to provide safe, nurturing communities where families can grow and thrive in stress-free, supportive environments."
Partnerships between organizations such as Exchange and Prevent Child Abuse America are important for not only raising awareness of prevention as a solution to child abuse and neglect, but also for normalizing the kind of activities that both organizations believe lead to more stable and nurturing communities. Examples of partnerships include the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers in Billings and Missoula, MT; The Parenting Place and the Family Tree Center, which host Prevent Child Abuse Montana; and Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma, hosted by the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center, Parent Promise in Oklahoma City, OK. Additionally, throughout Child Abuse Prevention Month 2015, the Michigan’s Children’s Trust Fund and Prevent Child Abuse Michigan will present a “Prevention Awareness Day Rally”, Thursday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at the State of Michigan Capital Steps, where Exchange’s National President Tom Karnes will speak.
For more information on The National Exchange Club, please visit NationalExchangeClub.org. For more information on Prevent Child Abuse America, please visit preventchildabuse.org.
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The National Exchange Club is America’s oldest service club with more than 650 local-level clubs and nearly 20,000 members, and 65 Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers, throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The organization’s Vision, a strong America, safe communities, and unified people, and Mission Statement, Exchange, inspiring communities to become better places to live, are carried out through its Programs of Service – Americanism, Youth Programs and Community Service – as well as the National Project, the prevention of child abuse. Founded in 1911, Exchange celebrated its 104th anniversary in March 2015. For additional information about The National Exchange Club, please visit NationalExchangeClub.org.
Prevent Child Abuse America, founded in 1972 in Chicago, IL, is the nation's champion for great childhoods for all children. Prevent Child Abuse America works actively to prevent all forms of child abuse and neglect before they occur, and helps children grow up to contribute in their communities. Healthy Families America, the signature program of Prevent Child Abuse America, helps nearly 100,000 families per year, and state Prevent Child Abuse chapters turn research into action at the local level to help families create great childhoods. For more information, please visit preventchildabuse.org