CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH and MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD Published April 30, 2013 By Joyce Cardenas Family Advocacy Program PATRICK AFB, Fla. -- April is a time to think of bright sunny days, flowers springing to life, and summer time fun right around the corner. It is also the time to stop and think about how we can help someone in our community. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Month of the Military Child. As the president stated recently in his National Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation, "All of us bear a responsibility to look after them, whether by lifting children toward their full potential or lending a hand to a family in need." This is what the community of Patrick AFB are all about. We would like everyone to take a moment and look around and see if there is a place where you can lend a hand to a neighbor in need. As parents are stressed with the obligations of life, mission requirements, deployment, and other life circumstances, they sometimes forget to do the one thing that would make the greatest difference in the life of their child, ask for help. Each of us can help our friends and neighbors by encouraging them to seek the support and help they might need. We can reinforce the message that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of determination to do what is best for your family. The Patrick AFB Family Advocacy Program has several programs that strengthen family resilience though education and support. The New Parent Support Program (NPSP) is one which provides services to families who are expecting or have children between the ages of 0-3 years old. The NPSP is designed to build healthy communities and to enhance mission readiness. Family Advocacy also offers Family Advocacy Strength-based Therapy (FAST). This service provides counseling to individuals, couples, and parents. As its acronym implies FAST services are designed to "tune-up" your life, this service provides information and referral services, crisis intervention, brief/short-term therapy, and/or supportive interventions. For information on this and other programs please call the Patrick Family Advocacy Program at 494-8171. Let's celebrate the children in our lives and give them the best chance of success by being there for them. It only takes a few minutes to make a difference in the life of a child.