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CWLA Issue Months
Issue months can oftentimes serve as an ideal premise or starting point for a news story or article. CWLA makes a special attempt to honor and participate in several national issue months and celebrations. Most of our advocacy efforts have centered around work during Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Foster Care Month, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and National Adoption Awareness Month. In many cases, however, we have been involved in work with other national organizations in conjunction with their work in support of several issue months and can provide you with information and resources. For more information about an issue month or celebration, or to learn how to become more involved, contact Joyce Johnson at 804/492-4519 or jjohnson@cwla.org.
April: Child Abuse Prevention Month
To call attention to the shamefully high number of preventable deaths of children in the United States, CWLA promotes the display of the Children's Memorial Flag any time a child dies from violence, and throughout April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Over the past few years, the fourth Friday in April has come to be known as National Children's Memorial Flag Day, when agencies and organizations remember children lost to violence and promote action to stop preventable deaths of children. The centerpiece of the initiative is a simple, moving image-a red flag depicting blue paper-doll-like figures of children holding hands. In the center, the white chalk outline of a missing child symbolizes children lost to violence. Created by a 16-year-old student in Alameda County, California, the Children's Memorial Flag honors each lost child and raises public awareness about the continuing problem of violence against children. Our hope is that this powerful symbol will unite citizens and communities around this important issue and ignite action to prevent future occurrences of violence against children.
CWLA has expanded the idea for a Children's Memorial Flag into a national initiative; this past April, 50 governors, several mayors, numerous organizations and lots of local groups and agencies participated by flying the flag, arranging special ceremonies, convening representatives of groups that are committed to protect children, and heightening public awareness of the need for communities to help vulnerable children and families.
May: National Foster Care Month
National Foster Care Month is a joint effort of CWLA; the National Foster Parent Association; the U.S. Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the National Foster Care Coalition; National CASA; the National Association of Social Workers; and Casey Family Programs National Center For Resource Family Support.
The main goals for the month are to
- honor foster families and child welfare workers;
- increase the number of foster families and volunteers;
- raise public awareness about the need to keep children connected to their extended family, to place siblings in care together and to sustain children in their own communities and schools;
- encourage policymakers and community leaders nationwide to examine the causes for the high proportion of children of color in the system;
- advocate for services and supports to help young people make successful transitions to adulthood;
- highlight success stories and positive aspects of foster care; and
- put a human face on what is perceived to be a foster care "system."
September: National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
CWLA is joining forces with the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and numerous organizations and communities in celebrating National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. The goals is to unite communities nationwide in celebrating individuals who are in recovery and in recognizing the treatment providers who dedicate their lives to helping those in need. Families need to know that treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse works. Activities during September will focus on the strength of families who have achieved sobriety, regained control of their lives, and are now able to nurture their children. CWLA will also distribute a booklet entitled Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Child Welfare to opinion-shapers and policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels. The objective of this booklet is to educate agency administrators, media figures, elected officials, and the general public about this widespread but treatable public health problem and to celebrate those in recovery.
November: National Adoption Awareness Month
CWLA has a long, rich history of supporting children and families through all phases of the adoption process. During National Adoption Awareness Month 2002, CWLA helped administer a huge public awareness campaign, asking members of the press to run news stories and features in their communities about the challenges facing children in need of families. CWLA also submitted an article for ARA Content on Adoption Tips that was published by several hundred magazines and newspapers. In conjunction with these efforts, CWLA also sponsored a national adoption training conference in Fort Lauderdale, which focused on efforts to place more than 131,000 thousand children awaiting adoption in the United States. Sessions included topics covering all facets of adoption today, including special-needs adoption, domestic (private infant agency) adoption, open records, and intercountry adoption.
This year, CWLA's efforts during Adoption Awareness Month will be even more impressive, as CWLA has signed on as a national sponsor of the AdoptUsKids Campaign.
Other Commemorative Months
March: National Professional Social Work Month
Since 1984, March has officially been designated as a month to acknowledge and recognize the contributions to the quality of life made by America's half million professional social workers. Often working behind the scenes, social workers are trained to address problems that some can't or that others hope will simply go away. Trained social workers are critical to America's children, families, and communities-all those in need of basic services, everyday.
The theme for this year's National Professional Social Work Month is "The Power of Social Work: Pass it On." For more information, visit www.socialworkers.org.
September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries-Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico achieved independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.
According to the most recent statistics:
- One in four Latino children does not have health insurance.
- Every 45 seconds during the school day, a Latino high school student drops out.
- A Latino child is born into poverty every two minutes.
- Homicide is the second leading cause of death for Latino youths ages 15-24.
Clearly, the needs of Hispanic and Latino children, youth, and families remain unheeded in this country. For more information on Hispanic Heritage month, go to www.lulac.org or www.maldef.org.
October: National Crime Prevention Month
More than 25 million Americans are victims of crime each year. CWLA is a strong supporter of the National Crime Prevention Council's annual National Crime Prevention Month. Together, we are working to Take A Bite Out Of Crime®!
With recent statistics showing that eight children in America fall victim to gun violence each day--one nearly every three hours--CWLA is becoming increasingly concerned with the issue of children and gun violence.
In 2004, Uhlich Children's Advantage Network, in conjunction with CWLA's research division, released the sixth annual Teen Report Card on Adults. Several questions on the Report Card allow teenagers throughout the country to voice their opinions about gun violence and school security in the United States. In 2002, 2003, and again in 2004, teens graded their parents as follows:
- B- in keeping schools safe from violence and crime
- B- in making neighborhoods safe
- B- in protecting teens and kids from gun violence
- C- in getting rid of gangs
For more information about National Crime Prevention Month, check out www.ncpc.org. For more information about the Uhlich Report Card, check out www.ucanchicago.org.
October: Domestic Violence Prevention Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect battered women's advocates nationwide who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became a special week, with a range of activities at the local, state, and national levels. These activities were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes: mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence.
At CWLA, we work every single day to help children exposed to domestic violence by improving programs and services that are available to provide social, emotional, and material supports to children and their mothers. We know that when children are exposed to domestic violence, there is a potential for harm-whether they witness battering behavior, are injured in a violent episode, or are directly maltreated. CWLA believes the safety, permanence, and well-being of children is directly linked to the safety and well-being of their battered mothers. Whenever safe to do so, children should remain in the care of the nonoffending parent, and services should support the safety of both the children and that parent.
Additional Issue Months and Celebratory Days
- Black History Month (February)
- National Parenting Information Month (March)
- Youth Art Month (March)
- Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (May)
- Mental Health Month (May)
- Stand for Children Day (June 1)
- Native American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month (November)
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