TAMPA, Fla. — In the United States, one in seven children will suffer from abuse and neglect in their lifetime.
Curbing those glaring statistics in Tampa Bay is the goal of the non-profit Champions for Children, which operates in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
It's the only non-profit in Florida that focuses exclusively on child abuse and neglect prevention.
According to the Department of Children and Families, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have among the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the state. There are 88 reported cases of child abuse and neglect in the two counties combined every single day.
Moreover, half of their daily child welfare hotline calls are for children 5 years and younger.
Champions for Children spokesperson Brandy Gottlieb said the non-profit works toward prevention by giving parents resources to strengthen their families.
"We serve families from prenatal, before a child is born when parents are expecting, all the way through the life of the child, specifically focusing on that early education piece. So some of our programs, for example, are parenting classes. We're teaching parents what to expect, giving them the resources and the tools," Gottlieb said.
Gottlieb said that their resources are available to anyone who might need them.
"Oftentimes, we see parents coming in and maybe there are a certain set of frustrations with working with the child, or maybe they don't feel equipped to manage a communication style. And perhaps there's different reactions that they're working through. And they, they just need the resources and they need the tools," Gottlieb said.
"We invite parents and families to come in and to participate in our programs and to walk through those classes, to walk with a parent educator, to walk in support with one another, to develop those healthy bonds as healthy attachments."
Champions for Children urges parents with any questions to reach out to their Parent Warm Hotline at 813-673-4646, Ext. 7.
For a list of programs offered by Champions for Children, click here.