CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund and Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming, along with the Department of Family Services, invite the community to participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month this April, with activities to last a day, or the entire month. 
“Child abuse doesn’t just affect the child. It affects the family, the community, and the future. We want to start that conversation with activities all month. We want to talk about ensuring families around us have the resources they need to thrive.” said Nicole Neider, executive director of the Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its national 2023 Child Maltreatment Report  (https://acf.gov/cb/data-research/child-maltreatment) which showed a continued decline in both maltreatment reports and child deaths from abuse and neglect both in Wyoming and nationally. This is good news and comes at a time when the child welfare workforce is placing a greater emphasis on public health approaches that enhance child safety. A growing body of evidence shows that the best way to prevent child maltreatment and enhance child safety is by investing in supports that keep families strong and stable. 
The Wyoming Children’s Trust Fund and the Department of Family Services, along with state and local partners, are working together to prevent child abuse by providing sustainable support at home. Local organizations, DFS offices, and family resource centers use their deep understanding of the local community to offer tailored services to families in crisis. Food assistance, home heating assistance, and child care payment assistance can sometimes be the catalyst for change that removes stress factors and keeps children safe.

“As we continue to look for ways to improve child welfare systems and prevent maltreatment injuries and deaths, we must center our efforts on building and sustaining a system that invests in families early, emphasizes protective factors, and keeps families strong, healthy, safe and together,” said Department of Family Services Social Services Senior Administrator Kristie Gordy.
Local community members can help raise awareness through simple actions this April and beyond:
Attend Gov. Mark Gordon’s Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation signing at the Capitol in Cheyenne at 2:30 p.m. on April 7. Stay after the signing to plant pinwheels on the Capitol grounds (weather permitting).
Check to see if your community is recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Wear BOOTS every Monday and BLUE every Friday in April to show support for children and families as we build momentum throughout Child Abuse Prevention Month. Post a photo or video on social media and include the #WYKidsMatter.  
Follow Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming on Facebook and Instagram and share our posts throughout April. Encourage friends and family to do the same. Use the hashtags #WYKidsMatter, #PoweredbyHope, and #CAPMonth2025 to signify your commitment to helping children, families, and entire communities to thrive.
Reach out to your neighbors, friends, and family members and offer support and recognition in the challenges that parenting brings. 
For more ways to get involved in CAP Month, please visit https://pcawy.org/cap-month-toolkit-1