Child Abuse Prevention Resources
Small conversations can help build safer environments.
Prevention begins when adults create open communication, respect children’s boundaries, pay attention to changes, and know how to respond when something feels wrong.
Children are never responsible for preventing abuse. Creating safety is an adult and community responsibility.
Concerned about a child?
Prevention resources cannot determine whether abuse has occurred. You do not need proof or certainty to report a reasonable concern. In New Jersey, call the State Central Registry at 1-877-NJ-ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Where to begin
Explore prevention topics
Use these resources to support ongoing, age-appropriate conversations and create environments where children feel respected, heard, and able to ask for help.
Body Safety & Boundaries
Resources for age-appropriate conversations about boundaries, body safety, personal autonomy, and asking trusted adults for help.
Explore body safetyOnline Safety
Practical information about parental controls, privacy, screen time, social platforms, and safer use of connected devices.
Explore online safetyRecognizing Possible Signs
Learn about physical, behavioral, emotional, and developmental changes that may indicate a child needs attention or support.
Learn the signsSafer Organizations & Communities
Questions caregivers and community leaders can consider when evaluating policies, supervision, communication, and reporting procedures.
Explore safer environments
Body safety & boundaries
Help children understand that their voice matters.
Age-appropriate body safety education can help children understand personal boundaries, recognize uncomfortable situations, and identify trusted adults they can approach for help.
These conversations should be calm, ongoing, and appropriate for the child’s age and development. They should never imply that preventing abuse is the child’s responsibility.
- Use clear, age-appropriate language.
- Respect a child’s everyday boundaries whenever safely possible.
- Encourage children to talk with trusted adults when something feels wrong.
- Make it clear that children will not be blamed for asking for help.
Toolkit
Body Safety Toolkit
A Deirdre’s House resource designed to support age-appropriate conversations about body safety and boundaries.
Online safety
Help children use digital spaces more safely.
Online safety changes as platforms, devices, and children’s needs evolve. Regular conversations and age-appropriate supervision can help families respond to new situations.
Social Media Parental Controls
Explore the family supervision and parental-control tools available through the social platforms your child uses.
- Instagram Teen Accounts
- Snapchat Family Center
- TikTok Family Pairing
Platform features and settings may change over time.
Internet Access Controls
Review parental-control options available through your home router, internet provider, device, or family account.
Streaming and Video Controls
Use age-appropriate profiles, content restrictions, supervised accounts, and family settings where available.
- Netflix Kids profiles
- Disney+ Junior Mode
- YouTube supervised experiences and YouTube Kids
Feature names and availability vary by platform and may change.
Healthy Screen-Time Habits
Set expectations that fit your child’s age and needs, and encourage time for sleep, learning, creativity, movement, relationships, and offline activities.
Guide
Tips to Keep Children Safe Online
A practical Deirdre’s House overview of parental controls, internet access, streaming services, and screen-time considerations.
Schools, programs & community spaces
Questions adults can ask about child safety
No checklist can guarantee safety, but clear policies, appropriate supervision, trained staff, and accessible reporting procedures can help organizations create safer environments.
- 01
How are staff members and volunteers screened and trained?
- 02
What are the organization’s rules for one-on-one interactions?
- 03
How are digital communications between adults and children managed?
- 04
How can a child, caregiver, employee, or volunteer report a concern?
- 05
What happens after a concern is reported?
Organizations should follow all applicable laws, regulations, professional requirements, and child-safety standards.
Prevention resource library
Resources available now and coming soon
Explore current Deirdre’s House information and resources. Additional materials will be added as they become available.
Web page
10 Signs of Child Abuse
Review possible physical, behavioral, emotional, and developmental signs that may indicate a child needs help.
Online resource
Tips to Keep Children Safe Online
Practical information about parental controls, connected devices, streaming services, and screen-time habits.
Toolkit
Body Safety Toolkit
A Deirdre’s House body safety resource currently being prepared.
Resource directory
Resources for Families
Find trusted local, state, and national organizations supporting children, teens, caregivers, and families.
Bring prevention education to your community
Request a presentation or training
Deirdre’s House offers free in-person and virtual presentations for schools, educators, corporations, community groups, parents, students, and staff.
Available topics include Deirdre’s House services, identifying and reporting child abuse, cyberbullying and internet safety, and helping parents navigate technology safety.
In-person and virtual options
English and Spanish availability
Customized sessions for different audiences
Safer communities begin with informed adults.
Learn the possible signs, explore practical prevention information, or bring a Deirdre’s House presentation to your organization.
Concerned about a child?
Call 1-877-NJ-ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.