April is Chlid Abuse Prevention Month

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and, once again, we are celebrating this month by doing everything we can do to transform our communities into places that care about, and actively support, children and families.  

On Wednesday 1st April 2015, the Third Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council and Prevent Child Abuse Illinois will hold a press conference at the Madison County Administration Building in Edwardsville, Illinois to launch Child Abuse Prevention Month 2015.  Our theme this year is: “How Will You Help?”.

The press conference will begin at 10:00 AM.  The Honorable Judge Barbara Crowder, co- Chair of the Family Violence Prevention Council, will be present with the Honorable Judge William Mudge, and Donya Adkerson, Director of Alternatives Counseling, Inc.  We are also delighted to have Tarra Winters, Prevention Specialist from Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, join us for the event, together with Valda Haywood, Madison County Area Administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.  The Honorable Alan Dunstan, Madison County Board Chairman, will read the Proclamation. 

On display at the press conference will be the Oasis Women’s Center’s Clothesline Project.  In this moving display, a clothesline is hung with t-shirts that have been decorated by victims of domestic violence, many of whom are children, and their supporters. The t-shirts vividly represent their own feelings and experiences.   The Madison County Child Advocacy Center will display the numbers of children involved in investigations of abuse and who have been interviewed at the Center last year, with blue and pink paper silhouettes poignantly representing each child.  These displays will remain at the Administration Building for the month of April.

Many agencies will be present at the event with information on resources and support for children and their families in our community who need help. 

We each play a part to help increase awareness and prevent abuse and neglect before it ever happens.  Please show your support by joining us on 1st April 2015!

For further information, please contact Coordinator Tina Culp at 618-465-1978 or tinaculp@oasiswomenscenter.com

Additional information about Prevent Child Abuse Illinois and Child Abuse Prevention Month can be found on the website at www.preventchildabuseillinois.org