The “Long Campaign Is Over.” Let’s Get To Work.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, IL, November 7, 2012 – The 2012 Presidential campaign is over and now is the time to come together and get to work as a nation to support our President and discuss the issues that are critical to our nation’s future, but did not make it into the campaign.

Children and families were not part of the discussion during this campaign season, but we cannot discuss the future prosperity of the country if we do not discuss how each child and family, regardless of race, culture or geography should have an equal opportunity for healthy development.

We know the tremendous positive impacts we can have on a child’s brain architecture that sets a course for a child’s future success. We know that family well-being can be strengthened when we support “protective factors” such as increasing social connections and knowledge of parenting and child development in families, neighborhoods, and communities.

And we know there are programs focusing on home visiting and child sexual abuse and bullying prevention that are effective and working in states across the country right now…programs that teach empathy and respect and prepare children for the transition into adulthood as contributing members of our communities.

But we need to get to work.

Policy makers, elected officials, corporate executives, faith communities and every individual in our country must begin to ask, “What is the national vision for our children and families?” “What are the specific strategies to achieve that vision?” And “What concrete actions can we as individuals, communities, and as a nation take in order to truly prepare our children for the future?”

We need to get to work, all of us, because no matter what side we are on politically, we are all on the side of children and families, so let’s prove that during the next four years.

“The election is part of the history books now,” said James M. Hmurovich, President & CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America, “but the work isn’t done, not for children and families, and not for the future of this great country. I ask everyone to ask what you can do to advocate for public policies that support protective factors and children and families. I ask everyone to call for a national vision that enhances the well-being of all children and all families. And I ask everyone to join us as we advocate for these things, today, tomorrow, during the next four years, and beyond.”

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ABOUT PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA
Prevent Child Abuse America, founded in 1972 in Chicago, works to ensure the healthy development of children nationwide. The organization promotes that vision through a network of chapters in 50 states and 530 Healthy Families America home visitation sites in 39 states, the Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. A major organizational focus is to advocate for the existence of a national policy framework and strategy for children and families while promoting evidence-based practices that prevent abuse and neglect from ever occurring. To learn more about what we’re doing to prevent child abuse and neglect and how you can help, please visit our websites, here and here.