By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News/Blizzard Broadcasting.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. In 2025, there were 333 reports of possible child abuse or neglect to Routt County Human Services with 88 moving forward to investigation. So far this year, there have been 83 referrals. Local Routt County communities will be recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month at their regularly scheduled meetings. The first one will be at the Hayden Town Council meeting Thursday night.

• Hayden Town Council Meeting – April 2 at 5:30  p.m.
  • Routt County Commissioners Meeting – April 7 at 9:35 a.m.
  • Steamboat Springs City Council – April 7 at 5  p.m.
  • Oak Creek Town Board Meeting – April 9 at 6  p.m.
  • Yampa Town Board Meeting – April 15 at 6  p.m.

Press Release from Steamboat Springs Police; March 30, 2026.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Established in 1983 following the first federal child protection legislation, Child Abuse Prevention Month raises awareness about the presence of child abuse in all communities—large and small. Its purpose is to encourage community members to come together to support and strengthen families, helping prevent child abuse and neglect.

In 2024, Routt County Human Services received 357 reports of possible abuse or neglect; 87 required further investigation. In 2025, there were 333 reports, with 88 moving forward to investigation. So far in 2026, the department has received 83 referrals. While these numbers reflect a community willing to “see something, say something,” more can still be done to ensure the safety and well-being of every child.

Brighter World Child Advocacy Center is an accredited Child Advocacy Center (CAC) through the National Children’s Alliance and serves Colorado’s 14th Judicial District: Routt, Moffat, and Grand Counties. While Brighter World is relatively new to our community, the CAC model is well established, with more than 950 centers nationwide and 19 in Colorado.

Children’s Advocacy Centers were created in the 1980s to provide a coordinated, child-centered response to allegations of abuse. At a CAC, a child tells their story to a specially trained forensic interviewer. A multidisciplinary team—including law enforcement, child protective services, medical and mental health professionals, prosecutors, and victim advocates—works together to determine the best ways to support the child and family.

Brighter World also helps connect children and families with services such as therapy, medical exams, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy, and case management. In 2024, Brighter World conducted 65 forensic interviews across the district; in 2025 that number rose to 84. So far in 2026, 25 interviews have been completed.

We invite the citizens of Routt County to join their community members at the April proclamations recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month:

• Hayden Town Council Meeting – April 2, 2026, at 5  p.m.
  • Routt County Commissioners Meeting – April 7 at 9:35 a.m.
  • Steamboat Springs City Council – April 7 at 5  p.m.
  • Oak Creek Town Board Meeting – April 9 at 6  p.m.
  • Yampa Town Board Meeting – April 15 at 6  p.m.

When the blue ribbons come down, the posters are removed, and the pinwheels stop spinning, the unfortunate reality is that child abuse continues to impact families in our community. But the people of Routt County have the capacity to make a difference.

Friends, family members, and other trusted adults can help by building strong, supportive connections with the children in their lives. Volunteers can mentor youth in after-school programs. Community organizations can connect families to resources—so encouraging families to reach out is vital. Teachers play an essential role in recognizing when a child or family may be struggling. Public health practitioners and other professionals contribute to creating a protective, informed community where keeping children safe is a shared priority.

Through collective effort—by organizations, individuals, and the community as a whole—we can create a supportive environment where all children grow up safe, healthy, and surrounded by a community they can trust.