Reach Out and Read-Alabama attends Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama grantee presentation and partners in April for Child Abuse Prevention Month
Reach Out and Read-Alabama attends Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama grantee presentation
On Tuesday, January 20, more than 180 grantees from community-based programs across the state gathered at the Alabama State House alongside Alabama Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention staff and board members, as well as numerous Alabama legislators. During the event, an $11.9 million grant check was presented to grantees.
As part of the program, Dr. Nyesha Black and Dr. April Kendrick of the University of Alabama presented findings on the economic cost of child maltreatment in Alabama. Their report examined the tangible costs of child abuse and neglect to the Alabama economy in 2023.
The report estimates that child maltreatment costs Alabama approximately $8 billion annually, representing roughly 3.2 percent of the state’s 2023 gross domestic product of $248.3 billion.
The findings reinforce the critical role of early childhood prevention efforts like Reach Out and Read-Alabama, which support families at the earliest and most effective point of intervention. Investing in programs that strengthen parent-child relationships and early development results in healthier outcomes and long-term cost savings for the state.
Reach Out and Read-Alabama and Children’s Trust Fund partnering in April for Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month a time for Alabama to come together around solutions that strengthen families and help children thrive. Child abuse and neglect are preventable, and prevention begins when families and communities are empowered to define what support looks like and when systems align to meet those needs.
This year’s theme, Pinwheels of Possibility, reminds us that every child deserves a bright future and that each of us has a role in creating it. The pinwheel is a symbol of hope, resilience, and the joyful, healthy childhoods we want for every Alabama child.
Pinwheels symbolize childhood joy and imagination, but they also represent something deeper. They remind us that when the conditions are right, children can thrive.
The pinwheel is a symbol of hope and resilience. Families are at the center, and each spin represents the programs, policies, services, and everyday acts of care that help them stay strong.
We encourage you to download the coloring sheet and make your own pinwheel in April.
