Child Safety and Protection Month: Make Safety a Reality for All Young People

Each year, approximately 14,000 children and adolescents ages 0–19 die of injuries in the United States, 227,000 are hospitalized, and 8.7 million visit the emergency department. EDC is committed to making safety a reality for all young people—rather than a goal—and that includes addressing social determinants of health and safety.

“Together, we can take action to ensure all children and youth thrive,” says Jennifer Leonardo, director of the Children’s Safety Network at EDC (CSN), “By drawing on evidence, we can work to significantly strengthen safety systems and supports and advance equity in health and safety.”

“Injuries are a serious health and safety risk to young children in particular,” adds Nancy Topping-Tailby, director of the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety. “But the good news is that most injuries are predictable and preventable.”

This November, in observance of National Child Safety and Protection Month, EDC is sharing the following resources to help federal and state policymakers, state injury and violence prevention leaders and practitioners, community leaders, educators, health and social service providers, and families promote and improve the safety and well-being of all young people.

Evidence-Based Tools and Resources

1. Explore the CSN 2020 resources and browse the full collection of briefs, infographics, articles, and tools:

• Framework for Quality Improvement and Innovation in Child Safety: A Guide to Implementing Injury and Violence Prevention Strategies and Programs
• Traumatic Brain Injury Resource Guide
• Bullying Prevention Resource Guide
• Child Maltreatment Prevention Resource Guide
• CSN Newsletter: Sign up to learn about new child safety and prevention resources

2. Check out these health and safety resources for preschool children:

• Tips for Keeping Children Safe: A Developmental Guide
• Beyond Handwashing: Promoting Child Wellness During COVID-19
• A Guide to Safety Conversations with Families
• 10 Actions to Create a Culture of Safety
• Hazard Mapping for Early Care and Education Programs

3. View these webinar recordings on key safety and protection topics:

• Managing Infectious Disease in Head Start
• Poisoning Prevention: New Challenges and a Novel Tool
• Leave No Child Unattended! Use Active Supervision to Keep Children Safe
• Play it Safe: Playground Safety for Everyone
• Creating and Enhancing a Culture of Safety
• Evidence-Based/Informed Interventions and How They Can Improve Our Work
• Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm Among Black Youth

4. Read EDC.org articles and blog posts that spotlight key aspects of children’s and youth’s safety and well-being:

• School Is Coming Back. Are Kids Ready?
• A Call to Action: Inequities in the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Advancing the Work of Trauma-Informed Care
• How Child Drowning Can Be Prevented
• Head Games

5. Follow us on Twitter (CSN and EDC) and Facebook (Children’s Safety Network and EDC) year-round for ideas and activities.

6. Learn more about EDC’s work in early childhood development and learning as well as suicide, violence, and injury prevention.