SOS, CASA hold events in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and local organizations are taking part to raise awareness. Services Offering Safety (SOS) and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will both host events throughout April to support the cause.

“To me, child abuse affects everyone in our community,” said Lisa Livesay-Fox, family advocate for SOS. “These children are our future and we have to protect them and a good way to do that is to educate and bring a new understanding about child abuse and its effects.”

According to childwelfare.gov, Child Abuse Prevention Month started in 1983. Since then, activities promoting awareness about child abuse and neglect have taken place yearly across America. Within the Children’s Bureau, the offices on Child Abuse and Neglect organize Child Abuse Prevention Month through the distribution of information and by releasing polls and statistics regarding the cause throughout the month of April.

The Blue Ribbon Campaign is another important aspect that brings attention to child abuse. The campaign began in 1989 when a woman tied a blue ribbon to her car antenna in tribute to her grandson, who died due to child abuse. Since then, individuals across the nation have worn blue ribbons as a reminder and memorial to all those lost to child abuse and neglect.

“Bookmarks and blue ribbons along with the story of how the blue ribbon gained its identity can be found throughout Emporia during this month,” Livesay-Fox said. “We’ve placed them in heavily trafficked areas such as the police department, hospital and recreation center. Any individual can take one of these ribbons to represent Child Abuse Prevention Month.”

One of the ways in which SOS will promote awareness throughout April is to put up a banner across from Staple’s. In front of the banner, there will be 699 pinwheels representing the amount of children that SOS served in 2007. SOS will also select a librarian to read to children about child abuse and hope to place the book “Hands Are Not for Hurting,” by Martine Aggassi in daycare centers throughout Emporia.

“It’s really important to sponsor child abuse and neglect prevention,” said Brittany Hamilton, freshman psychology major. “It’s a simple thing to support by just wearing a blue ribbon. I think that all too often people don’t understand that it’s a silent problem and it may be happening to someone around them but they just don’t know.”

CASA will also be sponsoring events throughout April, including a Teddy Bear clinic this Saturday in the Flint Hills Mall. The organization will be promoting their services and offering an activity for children.

On April 21, they will be on “Talk of Emporia,” a local radio show, where representatives will discuss child abuse prevention and ways to identify abuse. On April 26-27 CASA will serve hot dogs and soda at Water’s True Value, where individuals can talk to CASA members informally while enjoying a snack.

“I think it’s especially important to acknowledge child abuse in small communities because we often don’t think it exists here,” said Dena Russell, CASA volunteer coordinator. “We had 869 child abuse and neglect cases this last year and 95 of those cases went to court. It’s important for individuals to know that it does happen here, and it doesn’t discriminate against class, race or gender.”