Child Abuse Prevention Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month 2026

April marks Child Abuse Prevention Month - a time to come together to promote the well-being of children, strengthen families, and elevate prevention-focused efforts across California. This year’s statewide theme, “Strong Families, Safe Futures,” underscores that when families are supported and empowered, children thrive and communities experience long-term well-being. Our tagline, “When we care together, families thrive,” reiterates our shared responsibility and the power of collective action and community connection.

This page includes a variety of ready-to-use resources to support partners, businesses and families throughout the month, including:

  • Parent & Caregiver Leadership Awards 
    deadline extended to March 11
  • Kids Art Contest due March 9
  • Pinwheels for Prevention materials and order form
  • Wear Blue Day outreach tools
  • GBA’s CAP Month Media Kit
  • Child & Family Activities Calendar
  • Coming Soon! CAP Month Toolkit
  • Weekly Webinar Flyer and registration links

 

These tools are designed to help you engage families, uplift parent and caregiver leadership, and raise awareness about prevention in meaningful, visible ways. We invite you to use, share, and adapt these resources to help amplify child abuse prevention messages and celebrate families all month long.

Check back as more information will be added in the next couple of weeks.

 

Pinwheels for Prevention - available while supplies last

Pinwheels are a powerful symbol of hope and action. As the state lead for Pinwheels for Prevention, we invite partners to order pinwheels through The CAP Center and create pinwheel gardens in their communities. These gardens show a shared commitment to safe, stable, and nurturing environments for children. Join us in spreading the message of Pinwheels of Possibility.

Pinwheels are available now through April, while supplies last.
(All US Prevent Child Abuse State Chapters use the same vendor so it is hard to predict how quickly they will go through this year’s stock, but you can always email Kelly at kbarton@thecapcenter.org to inquire availability as we approach April.

Click here to order pinwheels  #PinwheelsforPrevention  PinwheelsofPossibility

Wear Blue Day

Show your support for child abuse prevention by wearing blue on Friday, April 10, 2026. Blue represents hope and solidarity for children and families. Snap a photo, share it on social media, and help raise awareness by using #WearBlueDay. Every post helps keep prevention front and center. Use the image above to promote wear blue day in your virtual community!

#WearBlueDay #WearBlueDayCA

 

Greater Bay Area CAP Month Media Kit
The Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council Coalition recently convened area Child Abuse Prevention Councils to develop a unified statewide theme and media kit for Child Abuse Prevention Month. This collaborative effort brings together local CAPCs, The Child Abuse Prevention Center, and the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention to align messaging and amplify prevention efforts across the state. The new media kit provides shared tools and resources to support consistent, impactful outreach throughout April as we work collectively to strengthen families and prevent child abuse.

Click here for their CAP Month Media Kit

If you need these in another format or have any trouble accessing them, please contact Kris Murphy at kris.murphey@cirinc.org.

 

Child & Family Activities Calendar

This April, celebrate Child Abuse Prevention Month by spending meaningful time together as a family. Our Child & Family Activities Calendar offers simple, fun, and engaging daily activities that help strengthen connections, build healthy habits, and support children’s safety and well-being. From cooking and movement to mindfulness and bonding activities, the calendar makes it easy for parents and caregivers to create moments that matter—all month long.

Click here for the Child & Family Activities Calendar.

 

Parent & Caregiver Leadership Awards

Do you know a parent or caregiver who is making a meaningful difference for children and families? Nominate them for the 2026 Parent & Caregiver Leadership Awards, recognizing leaders who advocate for children, uplift their communities, and lead with compassion. Honorees from across California will receive official recognition and be celebrated during a virtual event in April. Nomination deadline is extended to March 11, 2026.

Click here to submit the Parent & Caregiver Leadership Nomination form

Kid Art Contest

Calling all young artists! Children and youth across California are invited to participate in the statewide Kids Art Contest in celebration of Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year’s contest theme, “My BIG Dream,” encourages kids to share their hopes, dreams, and visions for a strong and safe future. Winning artwork will be featured statewide during April, with prizes including art supplies and a framed certificate. Submissions are due March 9, 2026.

Click here for the Kid Art Contest Flyer and submission info.

 

The Office of Child Abuse Prevention, The Child Abuse Prevention Center, The California Training Institute, and Safe & Sound present the 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month annual webinar series. Join us every Wednesday throughout April to learn how to incorporate this year’s theme, “Strong Families, Safe Futures: When We Care Together, Families Thrive,” into statewide prevention initiatives.

Click here to download the flyer to register today!

· April 1, 2026: State of the State: Programs & Initiatives Transforming Services for Children & Families 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

· April 8, 2026: If Help Had Come First: Lived Experts on Community Pathways 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

· April 15, 2026: Reimagining Mandated Reporting: Building Prevention-Focused Pathways for Families 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

· April 22, 2026: Concrete Supports in Action: Meeting Family Needs to Prevent Crisis 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

· April 29, 2026: Self-Care Tools for High-Impact Care Teams 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

Additional resources:

Sample Press Release
Sample Talking Points
Sample CAP Month Resolution

Activities for kids:

Pinwheel Coloring Sheet
Make a Pinwheel