Promises for Prevention is a pledge campaign that does not solicit money. Rather, it solicits promises, asking individuals to pledge to do something tangible to help, support or ease the job of parents.

Promises for Prevention campaigns encourage everyone in our communities to take responsibility for providing the support and assistance that all parents need. These campaigns are a strategy for the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect.

The goal of primary prevention is to stop child abuse and neglect from ever  happening. Primary prevention strategies create supportive environments that empower parents and help them access the tools they need to raise their children in safe, loving, and nurturing homes. Primary prevention efforts are often found in places where families gather: neighborhoods, workplaces, shopping centers, libraries,
religious settings, schools, and clubs.

Promises for Prevention campaigns accomplish primary prevention by increasing understanding of one of the solutions to the problem of child abuse—supporting parents—and by mobilizing citizens to engage in that solution.

As with other pledge campaigns, individuals complete pledge cards indicating what their commitment will be. Pledge cards can be distributed in several ways: at speakers’ presentations, at informal gatherings of parents and friends, at community meetings, at public display sites, or through the print media.

Pledge cards can be used as an educational hand-out or pledges can be returned to a Promises for Prevention campaign leader for counting and publicizing.

Example pledges:

• Offer to baby-sit free of charge, so parents can get a break.


• Arrange an on-going weekly or bi-weekly meeting with another mother (or a small group of mothers) so that mothers can talk over experiences or problems, while children play together.


• If you are a grandparent, take care of a different grandchild each week to relieve some pressure on their parents.


• If you are a supervisor, encourage and support flex and comp-time arrangements so parents may deal with day-to-day situations and children's emergencies without the added stress of repercussions at work.


• If you are a preschool teacher, establish informal monthly meetings for parents of young children to provides information on parenting and schooling.


• Canvas members of a social club and seek people available to provide babysitting for children under two years of age.


• Be a good listener for the parents you have contact with. Let them talk about their trials and triumphs.


• If you are a doctor or work at a doctor's office, locate and distribute positive literature on children's health issues and activities.


• Work with the PTA to bring a parenting class to school and offer babysitting for parents who may otherwise be unable to attend.


• Offer rides to neighborhood children's activities.


• Volunteer as a big brother or club leader to help out kids and allow parents some free time.