This year, over 10,000 little children in Illinois, 3 years or younger, will be abused or neglected.

More locally, the McLean County Health Department in partnership with The Baby Fold and Children's Home + Aid Society have identified over 400 WOMEN in our community—most of these first-time teen mothers—who are at-risk for abusing or neglecting their yet-unborn children.

These women have been screened and found to have one or more factors that make them prime candidates for abuse and neglect of their children, meaning:

* Their children are at risk for ending up in foster care.
* Their children may end up being seriously injured, hospitalized or worse due to abuse and neglect.
* Their children could suffer long-lasting effects from malnutrition and physiological damage due to neglect.

In short, these pregnant women are not prepared to be mothers and it's their children who will pay the price. It's hard to believe that such a tragedy could be unfolding in our own backyard.

Fortunately, Healthy Start is reaching some of these families—but only about half—before abuse can begin through our prevention program. In the families they do reach, Healthy Start has seen a 98% success rate of keeping children free from abuse and neglect through regular support, education, and resources.

We need your help to keep new families in McLean County safe. We are looking for 400 people to help support at-risk mothers and children in our community. If you were directed here from a friend who is providing awareness about these women, would you consider a gift of any amount to show you support these women and their new families? Please use the link below to make your gift and we will let you know more about the success we have with these families thanks to your partnership.

Give what's in your pocket. Give what's in your heart. But please give to show that you care about the health of these children and these mothers. You have the power to turn back the clock and prevent child abuse and neglect before it event begins.