(RALEIGH) -- April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and those on the front lines fighting the problem in North Carolina say they have many tools in their box to help prevent abuse. The state's model works to help families understand proper parenting and development.

The Nurse Family Partnership has been in existence for 30 years and is funded through private grants and Smart Start explained Maureen McKeon, director of communications for Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina. "One thing North Carolina has done is implemented family strengthening programs that have been shown to increase the likelihood of preventing abuse before it occurs," she said.

While the state is strong in family support programs, North Carolina spends less for home visits compared to other parts of the country. The state spends $61 per child for home visits, compared to the nationwide average of $171.