Child Abuse Prevention as Public Health: Blue Cross Partners with Children’s Trust Fund
by Blues Perspectives
| 3 min read
Every 10 seconds, a report of child abuse is made in the United States. Child abuse and neglect – coupled with adverse childhood experiences like exposure to violence or abuse – can have tremendous life-long effects on health, opportunity and well-being if left untreated. In Michigan, two-thirds of adults reported at least one of these adverse experience as a child. The past two years have exacerbated the stress and crises many families face across Michigan; and reports indicate child abuse increased during the times when children were isolated at home due to pandemic closures. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan – together with Blue Care Network and Blue Cross Complete – are committed to bringing child abuse prevention and awareness to the forefront in 2022. This year, we are partnering with the Children’s Trust Fund to raise awareness and funds for their important work. “Child abuse and neglect are urgent public health issues across the country and here in Michigan,” said Daniel J. Loepp, President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “We feel it is critical to bring awareness about child abuse prevention and to provide help and hope for children and families facing these experiences. As part of this effort, our company chose the Children’s Trust Fund as our charitable focus for 2022 and we are implementing a yearlong campaign devoted to the organization.” The Children’s Trust Fund is the only statewide organization in Michigan whose sole focus is to proactively support programs with education, funding and resources across the state with a goal of preventing child abuse and neglect. It is celebrating its 40th year as the Michigan legislature established it in 1982 to fund critical activities of organizations on the front lines of child abuse and neglect prevention across the state. Blue Cross is a sponsor of the Children’s Trust Fund’s 20th Annual Pam Posthumus Signature Auction May 17, which raises money to expand prevention programs in all 83 Michigan counties. Blue Cross President and CEO Daniel J. Loepp, and his wife, Children's Trust Fund Board chair Amy Tattrie Loepp, are serving as the honorary 2022 co-chairs of the event. Money raised in the auction pays for programs including parent support and education, fatherhood programs, family resource dollars, adverse childhood experiences prevention and more. Together, Blue Cross and the Children’s Trust Fund are engaging local and statewide stakeholders to identify areas of need for families facing difficult challenges and children in danger of harm. We’ve produced and distributed a toolkit to help inform and empower individuals on our communities to recognize and report child abuse. Blue Cross is also engaging its employees with opportunities to help make a difference throughout 2022. During April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month, look for gardens of blue pinwheels in front of Blue Cross office buildings – as well as many more locations with our community partners across Michigan. These pinwheel gardens are a part of Pinwheels for Prevention, the national signature campaign of Prevent Child Abuse America. Pinwheels are symbolic to the prevention effort and the hope, health and happiness each child deserves. More from MIBluesPerspectives.com:
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- Supporting Communities Through the Michigan Health Endowment Fund
Photo credit: Getty Images
