As a caseworker, as attorney general, as governor and, most importantly, as a parent, I have made protecting children a duty, a passion and a priority. Recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month gives us the opportunity to remind one another that we all share a responsibility to keep Washington’s children safe.

I have seen firsthand how important it is to respond quickly to allegations of child abuse and neglect. Bruises fade, wounds heal and many times stories change. If we do not stop the abuse when it happens, it is more likely to happen again and again.

When I became governor, I put my experience to work and made sure that the Department of Social and Health Services investigated cases where a child’s life might be at risk within 24 hours, seven days per week. These quick response times have resulted in a 25 percent reduction in the number of repeat child abuse cases. That means Washington children are safer.

But our work is not done, and we can’t do it alone. We rely on you, the eyes and ears of the public, to let us know when a family is at risk.

Last year, calls from nearly 37,000 concerned friends, relatives, neighbors, teachers, doctors, police officers and others resulted in child abuse and neglect investigations.

As a result of those calls and those investigations, some children were placed with relatives or foster parents while their parents received treatment for alcohol and drug abuse, mental health issues or other problems. Other children stayed in their homes while their parents received services and parenting assistance.

One call alerted a social worker to a foster home that had fallen into disrepair. The child was doing quite well, and after a meeting with everyone involved, local church members helped clean and fix the house, and the child was adopted by her foster parents.

With a little help for her parents, that child is safer. With a little help from you and other people who care, all of our children can be safer.

I pledge to do my part. I will continue to increase the number of 30-day visits between social workers and children, place children with family members whenever possible and safe, support intervention in child neglect, improve mental health services and provide more health care coverage for children.

The Spokesman-Review has demonstrated a willingness to do its part, by bringing public attention to child abuse and neglect issues with detailed and thorough news and analysis.

And I ask you to do your part. We cannot protect children from abuse and neglect without your help. All of us – friends, neighbors, family members and everyone in our communities – must come together so that every child is safe.

If you have concerns about the safety of a child, please call (866) End-Harm (1-866-363-4276). If you believe a child is at imminent risk of severe harm or death, please call 911. Please also consider reaching out to those around you, helping a parent in need or offering assistance to friends and family.