April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The purpose of Child Abuse Prevention Month is to acknowledge the importance of communities coming together to prevent child abuse and neglect throughout the nation, including New Mexico.

To highlight the issue, New Mexico nonprofits and government agencies are coming together to build awareness and put an end to child abuse in the state. First, a few quick facts about child abuse in New Mexico:

• Since 2009, more than 50 children have died at the hands of abusers
• CYFD’s Child Protective Division responds to 4,500 reports a month
• CYFD has a $113 million annual budget; less than $1 million is spent on prevention services

Yet according to the NM Child Abuse Prevention Program (NMCAPP):

• Child maltreatment is 100% preventable.
• Our children and communities are better served by preventing child maltreatment then dealing with the serious effects of child maltreatment.
• Prevention of child maltreatment requires a sustained commitment and  partnership between state and local government agencies, service providers,  advocacy groups, and families. Here are just a few of the organizations that are working to protect young children and families.

What to do if you Suspect Child Abuse in New Mexico

According to CYFD, every person who knows or has reasonable suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected in New Mexico must report the matter immediately to CYFD’s Statewide Central Intake Child Abuse Hotline (1-855-333-SAFE or #SAFE) or to law enforcement or the appropriate tribal entity. When you report child abuse or neglect, you may choose to remain anonymous. You can find definitions of child abuse and neglect at the CYFD website.

Child Abuse Prevention Organizations in New Mexico

Survivors, families and advocates work with nonprofits and government organizations to prevent child abuse in New Mexico. Here are a few of the most well known child abuse awareness and prevention organizations in the state:

• New Mexico Child Abuse Prevention Program (NMCAPP). NMCAPP is a consortium of stakeholders throughout the state coming together to end child abuse in the state.
• New Mexico Voices for Children. To increase awareness during Child Abuse Prevention Month, NM Voices for Children is selling pinwheels for $1 each.  The pinwheels help spread the word that ending child abuse is possible.
• Pueblo of Isleta Social Services. The Pueblo of Isleta Social Services will host awareness activities throughout Child Abuse Prevention month. In 2016, the theme is Together We Journey to Promote Healthy Relationships between Families, Children and Communities. To learn more about the events, contact Isleta Social Services at (505) 869-2772.

Searching for child welfare organizations in New Mexico? Search the Resource Directory at ShareNM.org for hundreds of results.

Do you know of any other child abuse prevention organizations in New Mexico? Let us know in the comments!