Organizations pledge to create “no hit zones”

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, and there’s a nationwide push to create what’s being called “no hit zones.”

“it’s an agency’s promise to adopt policies and trainings in place so that in that agency, they are not going to allow hitting,” explained Ally Washenesky, Advocacy and Prevention Program Coordinator at First Witness. “It’s meant to be no hitting of a child, where adults can’t hit children, use corporal punishments, spanking, that type of thing. But it also protects children from hitting children, children from hitting adults, and adults hitting other adults.”

Organizations all over are taking pledges to create these “no hit zones,” with a few local groups making the commitment as well. First Witness, the Duluth Children’s Museum and the YMCA included.

“If we can provide parents and our community with positive parenting, positive discipline strategies, we can try to mitigate the amount of corporal punishment that’s happening,” said Washenesky. “And then therefore having less child abuse in our area. So we’re really trying to build a community response that reacts to child abuse and eventually just ends it.”

If your organization would like to make the pledge or learn more about the initiative, visit nohitzone.com.