October 2018 - Colorado Shared Message Bank

Project: CO4Kids Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Public Awareness Campaign

October 17, 2018
Business, Campaigns, Community Members & Groups, Community Resources/Services, Educators, Health Care Providers, Parents & Caregivers

Organization: Colorado Department of Human Services

Location of Messaging: Statewide

In 2015, the Colorado Department of Human Services, in partnership with more than one hundred and fifty community partners throughout the state and Governor Hickenlooper, launched a multi-year Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Public Awareness Campaign to engage all Coloradans in the prevention of child abuse and promote the new Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437).

Coloradans think Child Abuse and Neglect is a big problem. Why do we need to raise awareness?

To build an evidence-based public awareness campaign, the Department conducted public opinion research in 2013 which serves as a baseline measurement for the effectiveness of the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Public Awareness Campaign. According to research, Coloradans were well aware child abuse and neglect is a problem, believing that one in four children experience abuse or neglect. More than half of Coloradans said they had personally encountered a child that they suspected was a victim of abuse or neglect and they said that they were very likely to report a litany of typical abuse and neglect situations.

However, perceptions were very different from reality. Prior to the launch of the campaign the general public – friends, neighbors, community members – were not reporting concerns. It was estimated that 75% of reports of child abuse and neglect in Colorado came from mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, 15% came from family members, and only 10% came from the general public.

The primary goal of the campaign is to encourage all Coloradans to play a role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect by reporting all concerns to the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline and getting involved to help Colorado’s kids. This comprehensive effort includes shared messaging, grassroots outreach, media relations, billboards, television commercials, social media, and extensive toolkit materials to help campaign partners raise awareness. Every year, the campaign reaches over one million impressions, encouraging Coloradans to get involved and play a role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

This campaign website is intended to help you:

better understand the legal definition of child abuse and neglect in Colorado,
recognize the signs and behaviors associated with the various types of child abuse and neglect,
know what happens after you call the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline,
learn how to prevent child abuse and neglect, and
help people who want to get involved connect with local organizations making a difference in Colorado communities.