April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

 

Last year, I shared a post about Pinwheels of Hope and the impact it has on raising awareness for child abuse prevention. I’m resharing that message today because—even though the campaign isn’t running in the same way this year—the mission behind it matters just as much, if not more.

This cause is deeply personal to me, and it’s one I will continue to support and speak about.

It’s something I still struggle to understand… how, in 2026, children are still suffering. It’s heartbreaking, frustrating, and at times it can feel incredibly helpless. 

There are still meaningful ways we can show up for vulnerable children—through donations, volunteering, advocacy, and simply staying aware.

Organizations like Dallas Children's Advocacy Center continue to do critical work every single day. They support children and families through some of the most unimaginable situations, and they rely on community support to keep going.

The statistics they share are difficult to read—but impossible to ignore:

• 73% of sexually abused children don’t disclose their abuse for at least a year
• 45% wait 5 years or longer
• Some never tell at all
• 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday
• 95% of children know their offender

These numbers are exactly why awareness still matters… why support still matters… why we still matter in this fight.

Even though you won’t see the same Pinwheels of Hope displays or events this year, the heart behind it remains: creating safer, brighter futures for children.

So if you’re wondering what you can do:

• Consider making a donation to an organization that supports abused children
• Look into volunteer opportunities in your community
• Share resources or information that could help someone in need
• Have conversations that raise awareness and encourage protection for children

Sometimes it feels like such a big, overwhelming issue. But small, consistent actions add up—and they can truly change lives.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to revisit last year’s post. The message is still just as important today.

Children deserve safe, happy, protected lives. And until that’s a reality for every child, this is something I will continue to support and stand behind.

Thank you for caring about this with me.