Investing in Our Future: April is Month of the Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month in SLO County

Children on the playground at Glen Speck Elementary in Paso Robles

April marks a significant time for San Luis Obispo County as we come together to celebrate Month of the Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Local leaders and organizations are reaffirming their commitment to ensuring every child has access to safe, nurturing environments and the quality early learning opportunities they need to thrive.

A Collective Investment in Childhood

The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, alongside various city councils and the County Office of Education (SLOCOE), have officially proclaimed April 2026 as a month dedicated to our youngest residents. These proclamations highlight that the early years are foundational to lifelong health and success.

As District 3 Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg emphasizes, “We’re all here supporting our families and, of course, our children, which is the most important asset that we have in San Luis Obispo County.”

Strengthening Early Care and Education

A central theme of this month is the vital role of early childhood systems. Investing in quality child care and early learning supports the healthy development of children while contributing to the long-term economic prosperity of our community.

“Our council is a hub of support and gathering of partners to promote a full and enriched life for young children in our county,” says Jamie Sanbonmotsu, Valley View Children’s Center Director and Former Chair of the Early Care Education Planning Council. “It is an honor to be a part of… building our families and our children for our future.”

The impact of these systems is felt throughout the county:

• Educational Pathways: Melina Simonds, Cuesta College Faculty and Planning Council member, emphasizes that supporting the next generation of educators is a key strategy for improvement. Cuesta College has streamlined pathways for students to enter the field in SLO County by providing opportunities for Cuesta College students and dual enrolled high school students to earn college-level coursework  toward degrees, certificates, and early childhood education teacher permits. As Simonds states, “We’re all trying to make child care and early learning better for everyone in the county.”
• Direct Impact: Maddy Chevalier, Director of the Cuesta College Children’s Center, sees firsthand how the local network of child care centers and providers shapes the community. She notes that the strength of this impact relies on three critical pillars: “availability of child care, affordability of child care, and the need for quality child care.”
• Early Literacy: Molly Myers, Raising a Reader Coordinator at SLOCOE, highlights that “literacy skills that young children gain from the years of zero to five will serve them throughout their lifetime.”

Baywood Elementary student practicing the alphabet [photo courtesy of Sunshine Frawley]

A Commitment to Safety and Prevention

While we celebrate the promise of childhood, April is also a time to renew our commitment to child abuse prevention. This involves strengthening families and ensuring protective systems are in place so every child grows up valued and safe.

Lisa Fraser, Executive Director at the Center for Family Strengthening, explains their mission: “We want to elevate the importance of children and family as a community priority… We don’t want to lose sight of what we value most, which is a healthy community with healthy children and strong families.”

Shana Paulson, Director of Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County Child Care Resource Connection and Current Chair of the Planning Council, adds that our community comes together to provide essential resources, and “child care programs are partners in our work to extend safety and care to our community’s children. They provide critical and timely support to families, playing a role in child abuse prevention and working to strengthen families.”

How You Can Help

This month serves as a call to action for all residents to recognize the importance of investing in children. Whether by supporting local early childhood professionals or participating in family-strengthening programs, every member of the community plays a part in building a future where every child can grow, learn, and succeed.