Marin Advocates for Children

For over 30 years Child Abuse Prevention Councils have led the way in building awareness, providing education and inspiring hope in the effort to prevent child abuse and neglect in every county in California. The Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council Coalition represents eleven counties coordinating resources, advocating for public policy, producing conferences and trainings and sharing best practices.

Each of the eleven local Child Abuse Prevention Councils provide leadership as a resource and referral agency. The Councils address issues related to child abuse and neglect and its prevention while working with public and private agencies to pool skills, talents and resources to prevent child abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Councils are made up of professionals, volunteers, donors and parents who are actively preventing child abuse and neglect. Please join us; together we can make a difference. A child is helpless. You are not.

What you can Do

Reach out for support if you need it
		Call a friend, a hotline, an organization in your area for help. Remember that no one is a perfect parent or a perfect child. Parenting is the hardest job you will ever do.
Reach out to other families
		Just be a friend and listen.
		Offer to help out with household chores.
		Offer to take care of the children to give parents a break.
		Help a parent connect with local resources such as a family resource center.
Report suspected abuse or neglect
		Sometimes you alone cannot help. Reporting can stop the abuse and get help for the child and the family. Call the police at 911 if you think a child is in immediate danger.
Become a foster parent
		If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please call Cindy Wasserman at 415- 499-5028 or Megan Chesnut at 415-507-4387.
Support community child abuse prevention efforts
		Volunteer your time. Child abuse is a community problem. It takes all of its members to solve it.
		Donate to child abuse efforts. Financial help is a very important way to support child abuse prevention.
		Learn more about child abuse and the services in your area.
		Call your local Child Abuse Prevention Council to obtain more information.
		Wear a blue ribbon and tell people that it stands for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

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What is Child Abuse?

	PHYSICAL ABUSE
		Injuries to children that are not accidental: bruises, burns and broken bones.
	PHYSICAL NEGLECT
		Not providing children with enough food, clothing, shelter, medical care, hygiene and supervision.
	SEXUAL ABUSE
		Usinga child for the sexual needs of adults: exposing, fondling, intercourse, pornography and sexual stimulation.
	EMOTIONAL ABUSE
		Attacking a child’s self esteem: constant criticizing, yelling, belittling, insulting, rejecting and withholding love, support and help.