April: Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month
Community members gathered Monday morning at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro to show their support for a special effort to promote awareness about child abuse prevention.
WIBH Radio in Anna once again is leading a Blue Ribbons for Kids campaign in conjunction with the observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
Monday morning’s Proclamation Day at the courthouse was one of a variety of special events which are planned during April.
Local child service agencies, law enforcement and safety personnel, and city and county officials were on hand for the ceremony, which focused on April’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Proclamation Read
The ceremony was highlighted by the reading of a 2019 Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation.
The proclamation declared April to be Child Abuse Prevention Month in Union County.
The proclamation was read by Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds.
Highlights from the proclamation declared that:
“Child abuse and neglect is a complex and ongoing problem in our society, affecting many children in Union County.
“Every child is entitled to be loved, cared for, nurtured, feel secure and be free from verbal, sexual, emotional and physical abuse, and neglect.
“It is the responsibility of every adult who comes in contact with a child to protect that child’s inalienable right to a safe and nurturing childhood.
“Union County has dedicated individuals and organizations who work daily to counter the problem of child maltreatment and to help parents obtain the assistance they need.
“Our communities are stronger when all citizens become aware of child maltreatment prevention and become involved in supporting parents to raise their children in a safe and nurturing environment.
“Effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships among families, social service agencies, schools, religious and civic organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community.”
The proclamation also urged all citizens, community agencies, faith organizations and businesses to work to increase their efforts to support families.
After the proclamation was read by the state’s attorney, all of those who attended the ceremony had an opportunity to sign the document as a show of support for child abuse prevention awareness.
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Other Special Events Planned
Some of the other special events which are planned during April in the community include:
Davis Pastry in Anna will have Blue Cookie Days on April 4-5.
National “Wear Blue” Day is set for April 5. The color blue represents the bruises of child abuse and neglect.
Community members are invited to wear blue all day to show their support for the prevention awareness campaign.
A PJs and movie night is planned from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 5 at Kiki’s Coffeehouse in downtown Anna.
Community members can wear their PJs and bring blankets and pillows to the coffeehouse for a movie night which will feature treats from the Anna Baking Company.
A Blue March on Main Street is planned at noon on April 19. (Note: the date for this event was listed incorrectly in last week’s paper. The paper erred.)
For the march, community members are invited to wear blue, bring their family friendly signs and join others at Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church for a march up and down Main Street in Anna.
Open Houses
Open house events also are scheduled during the month:
April 5 at Two Rivers Child Advocacy Center in Anna, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
April 5 at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services office in Anna, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
April 11, Union County Counseling Center in Anna, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
More information can be found by visiting the WIBH Blue Ribbons for Kids campaign on Facebook, wibhradio.com or by calling 833-9424.