u003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Claire-Headshot.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-11607 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Claire-Headshot.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022225u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003eu003c/au003ePreventing child abuse is about strengthening families. It’s about ensuring families have what they need to nurture their children.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWhen a parent is able to afford rent, that’s prevention. When a parent is able to access substance abuse treatment in their area, that’s prevention. When a receptionist at a family resource center greets a young mom with a welcoming smile, that’s prevention. When a dad drops his baby off at a safe, quality child care center so he can go to work, that’s prevention.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eHaving an u003cemu003eattitudeu003c/emu003e of prevention – one that is compassionate, supportive and non-judgmental towards parents and families - is free and can be exhibited by anyone. But u003cstrongu003ethe supports and services that create a robust prevention system require financial investmentu003c/strongu003e.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eOftentimes, it’s the cost of providing these resources – including expanding economic supports like expanding the Child Tax Credit, making quality child care financially accessible for families, guaranteeing paid family leave, and other benefits included in the u003ca href=u0022https://www.whitehouse.gov/build-back-better/u0022u003eBuild Back Better Actu003c/au003e, that is used as the argument against investing in prevention. But the discussion shouldn’t be about whether or not we should offer families resources. The discussion should be about how much we are willing to tolerate child abuse and neglect and pay for its consequences.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eIt’s not about u003cemu003eif u003c/emu003eour state and our country want to spend money on children and families. We’re already paying for the costs of child abuse and neglect. In Arizona, we spend u003ca href=u0022https://www.azleg.gov/jlbc/22baseline/dcs.pdfu0022u003emore than a billion dollarsu003c/au003e on our child protection system, which reacts after harm has occurred.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe can only decide u003cemu003ehowu003c/emu003e we spend our resources. The fundamental question is this: u003cstrongu003eDo we wait for children to be harmed before we act to protect them, or do we prevent the harm from happening?u003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eOur inaction- our refusal to invest in what we know prevents child adversity – is an active choice. When we choose not to support investments in the strength of families – such as quality affordable child care, paid family leave, and economic supports for families – we are choosing to tolerate the consequences of family overwhelm. We are choosing to tolerate child adversity.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe are paying one way or the other. We have always had the choice. Choosing to be reactive isn’t working. u003cstrongu003eIt’s time to choose to focus on prevention.u003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eu003cemu003eYour voice matters. u003cstrongu003eHelp our Senators understand that you want investments in prevention by sending them a message urging them to pass Build Back Better u003c/strongu003eu003c/emu003eu003ca href=u0022https://preventchildabuse.org/what-we-do/public-policy/policy-action-center/u0022u003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003ehereu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003e.u003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003cemu003e The message is pre-written and it takes less than a minute to send. Use your influence!u003c/emu003eu003c/pu003e
