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Families, and children, can find love and support in many ways – through places in communities that offer a sense of belonging, to teachers who inspire and lift children, or through a social worker stepping in and offering supports and guidance to families struggling. April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, is a time to celebrate and lift-up the places and people in your community that celebrate the importance of children and families. And you too through your partnerships with families and community partners, building protective factors by recognizing the strengths and resiliency support in families and community.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) coordinates activities for Child Abuse Prevention Month through the work of the Strengthening Families Washington team. All month long, DCYF, organizations and individuals throughout Washington and our country plan activities and promote messages to remind us of the importance of positive childhood experiences and that we all have a role to play in prevention.
The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign is part of the Prevent Child Abuse America national effort to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention. Almost 15,000 blue and silver pinwheels will be distributed around the state. The pinwheel is a timeless symbol of the joy and happiness of childhood and the symbol of the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign.
Every act that builds protective factors in families is an act of prevention. This can be a parent spending quality time with their child, a child care provider offering resources or connecting families, or a neighbor providing a meal to a family to reduce stress. Each pinwheel you see or plant can be a reminder to inspire us all to support children so they grow up happy and healthy.
To celebrate and spread awareness about Child Abuse Prevention month, the SFWA team has a variety of free items available for distribution throughout the state. This includes our Protective Factors coloring book, our brand new What Makes a Hero coloring book, rack cards that include a coloring page, stickers, poster kits, temporary tattoos and seeds for planting. You can email strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov to request any of these items. We also have several print at home coloring pages available here.
In addition to our pinwheels, we also want to invite everyone in Washington to participate in Wear Blue Day on April 7th to stand in support of growing a better tomorrow for all children, together. It’s easy – just wear blue!
 Research has found that the five Protective Factors reduce stress and promote the well-being of ALL families. Everyone has stress, but when families increase Protective Factors, they build and draw on natural support networks within their families and communities.
Parental Resilience allows for coping in stressful situations, giving the flexibility and inner strength necessary to bounce back when things are not going well, supporting parents to overcome hard things.
This year, incarcerated students at Echo Glen Children's Center enrolled in a screen writing class were interviewed on what resilience means to them. These are their words.
Thanks to First Sight Productions for this incredible new video.
The Strengthening Families Washington team has created a new coloring book featuring Sasquatch as he finds heroes in his community. This coloring book and story also features activities and a post card to send to a hero in your life. You can request copies of the coloring book in either English or Spanish for either yourself or your community by emailing strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov. You can also view a digital copy of the book here.
DCYF currently has several open funding opportunities on our website.
This includes funding for program evaluation capacity building for community-based child abuse and neglect prevention programs! We invite Requests for Application (RFAs) from Washington State organizations interested in child abuse and neglect prevention efforts to submit a letter of intent (LOI) via email to strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov by April 3, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Programs who submit an LOI can then submit their Request for Application (RFA) and budget template by April 19, 2023 at 5 p.m.
There is also funding for perinatal mental health community capacity building! We invite Requests for Application (RFAs) from Washington State organizations interested in collaborative efforts to increase community-wide awareness and develop resources to support perinatal mental health.
Please see our Funding website for additional funding opportunities, including home visiting expansion opportunities for counties currently without home visiting services.
Organizations that serve families and actively work to prevent child abuse and neglect will soon be applying for our funding opportunities. How do we choose who gets funding? That’s where YOU come in! We are actively recruiting parents and community members to be a part of the decision process. Your experiences, backgrounds, and knowledge are so important and truly help us choose the organizations that will best serve families.
Please note: for parents, we can provide stipends and reimburse expenses for time/resources.
If you have the capacity to participate as a partner in this way and/or if you have any questions, please email us at strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov. Please pass along this information to anyone you think would be interested!
Family First Prevention Services Team celebrates Social Work Month: Imagine a child welfare system that invests the same amount of resources into families who need support as it invests in out of home placement. Family First allocates federal funds to support children and their families with services related to: mental health, substance use, and in-home skill-based services. Watch the team’s “Thank You” video to social workers here.
Cash Grants Available to Families: DCYF is contracting with Scholar Fund to administer cash grants of $250 per child to families who were, and continue to be, impacted by Covid 19. Eligible families: Have Washington State residency; Have a child/children under the age of 18; Have a household income that is under 200% of the 2022 Federal Poverty Limit. Applications accepted through 3/31. Learn more here | Apply here
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Funding announced for organizations working to support healthy births and expand access to resources for birthing families
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has awarded Birth Equity Project funding to five organizations serving pregnant and birthing people in the state. These organizations are led by and serve Washington’s Black/African American, African Immigrant, and American Indian/Alaska Native communities.
DOH’s Birth Equity Project funding seeks to address and reduce the racism faced by birth workers and families of the priority communities and improve birth outcomes. DOH is investing in community-based birth worker organizations helping close the gaps through culturally responsive care.
You can read the full release here.
In the News
Low-income preschoolers experienced pandemic-related developmental delays, Seattle's Child
Families take drastic steps to help children in mental health crises, The Center for Public Integrity
Meet Katie Strickland, our state’s first legally blind foster parent | Unsung Hero, Seattle’s Child
Single father of 7 helps to make things easier for other dads | Unsung Hero, Seattle's Child
Racial Equity Resources
Below are resources and opportunities to engage:
Women’s History Month: How it was Born and Why it's Observed in March
What was once Women's Day, expanded to a week, then to an entire month, over decades of celebration.
USA Today shares a brief history of the roots of Women's History Month (watch time 2:11):
Women’s History Month: How it was born and why it's observed in March
Jewel James & The Timeline of Federal Indian Policy
Hosted by Lummi Indian Business Council (LICB) and Children of the Setting Sun, hear James Jewel speak on the history of Federal Indian Policy (watch time 23.01):
The Timeline of Federal Indian Policy
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