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By the time you finish reading this brief, more than 30 cases of child abuse will have been reported to authorities nationwide. By the end of today, that number will swell past 9,000. And five of those children will have died at the hands of their abuser – all in a single day.

When we take stock of these sobering statistics during April – Child Abuse Prevention Month – it’s easy to be overwhelmed and to ask yourself, “What can I possibly do to make a difference?”

The answer is that you can do a lot. You can help prevent child abuse and neglect by becoming an advocate for children. For some of us, advocacy is a formal role – teachers, child care workers, health providers and others who come into daily contact with children who stay vigilant for signs of abuse and neglect.

Your help is just as important and necessary. Reporting suspected abuse or offering extra time and attention to fragile children does more than just make a difference – it saves children’s lives.