Press Release
Public Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Kittitas County, WA - 03/31/2026 - April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and throughout the month, several buildings in Kittitas County will feature blue lighting to call attention to the effort. Participants include Central Washington University, Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Kittitas (City), Kittitas County, Roslyn, and South Cle Elum.

If you or your agency is interested in supporting National Child Abuse Prevention Month, here are some ways to join in the effort:
 

• Wear blue on April 10th, 2026.  Wear Blue Day is observed every year to raise child abuse prevention awareness.  Any blue will do.
• Check out the Ten Things You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families.
• Business and government agencies are invited to join in the blue lighting to promote awareness throughout April.

 
“The health and safety of our children is paramount,” states Ellensburg Mayor Rich Elliott.  “Keeping kids safe is a combined community effort and the City of Ellensburg is happy to be a part of that effort along with our partners.”
 
According to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families, there are five protective factors known to help reduce child abuse and neglect:

• Knowledge of parenting and child development
• Social connections
• Parental resiliency
• Concrete support in times of need
• Social and emotional competence of children/nurturing and attachment

 
For more information, please visit Strengthening Families Washington | Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families
 
Check out agencies like Court Advocates for Children (CASA) for Kittitas County. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children’s best interests when children are dependents of the state.  They work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators, and service providers to help judges make the most well-informed decisions for each child.
 
To further raise awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, quilts made by CASA volunteer Debbie Schmit will be on display at Gard Estate Wines in Ellensburg throughout April. The quilts are for sale, offering visitors an opportunity to support CASA’s work in the community. For more information about CASA and volunteer opportunities, visit https://casaprogram.org/ or email info@casaprogram.org.
 

• April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.pdf

Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us

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Contact: Brett Wachsmith, County Commissioner, 509-962-7508