Everyone has a role to play in building strong communities where individuals, families, and children are valued, supported, and safe.

Healthy and connected neighborhoods and communities support and strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.

Here are some things you can do to build a supportive community and healthy families and prevent child abuse and neglect in your community:

• Get to know your neighbors. Develop friendly relationships with your neighbors and their children and grandchildren. Make your neighborhood your extended family. People feel better and safer, and problems seem less overwhelming, when support is nearby.

• Help a family under stress. If a family you know seems to be in crisis or under stress, offer to help—offer to babysit, help with chores and errands, or suggest resources in the community that can help the family such as faith community leaders, teachers, and doctors.

• Reach out to children in your community. A smile or word of encouragement can mean a lot, whether it comes from a parent, friend, or caring citizen. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.

• Get involved in a local school. Join the parent-teacher organization and attend school events. Even if you don’t have school-age children, you can mentor a child at your local school.

• Keep your neighborhood safe. Start a Neighborhood Watch.

• Learn how your community supports children and families, and be an active community member in these efforts.

• Help local organizations or tribal communities distribute educational materials on parenting and child abuse prevention.

• Mentor parents in programs that match experienced, stable parents with parents at risk for abuse.

• Contact your elected officials and ask them to support funding for programs and policies that support children and families.

• Make a donation to an organization that works to prevent child abuse or a social service agency that helps families in your community.

• Start or join a community coalition to prevent child abuse and neglect.

• Learn how to recognize and report signs of child abuse.

For more information on what you can do to prevent child abuse, see the Prevent Child Abuse America website.

Source: “Safe Children and Healthy Families Are a Shared Responsibility,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect.