Director's Corner
The Power of Presence
By Claire Louge, Executive Director

Preventing child abuse is about strengthening families. It’s about ensuring families have what they need to nurture their children.

When 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.

Having an attitude of prevention – one that is compassionate, supportive and non-judgmental towards parents and families - is free and can be exhibited by anyone. But the supports and services that create a robust prevention system require a financial investment.

Oftentimes, 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 Build Back Better Act, 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.