April is Child Abuse Awareness Month.

"Child abuse prevention is good for the church as well as the children," states the Church of the Brethren’s "Child Abuse Prevention Handbook," published in 1991. During the month of April and throughout the year, the Family Life Ministry of the Church of the Brethren encourages all individuals and congregations to play a role in making communities a better place for children and families.

Congregations can help reduce the risk of child abuse by adopting child protection policies and ensuring that parents and caregivers have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, according to an announcement from Kim Ebersole, director of Family Life. Materials to raise awareness about child abuse and child protection issues, as well as links to other resources, are available at www.brethren.org/childprotection or by calling the Caring Ministries office at 800-323-8039.

"We also encourage you to attend ‘Keeping Our Children Safe--Child Abuse Prevention,’ an insight session at Annual Conference, on June 29, at 9 p.m.," Ebersole said. The Annual Conference takes place in San Diego on June 26-30.

Source: 3/25/2009 Newsline Extra