The Department for Community Based Services reports that between January 2009 – December 2009 Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren counties had 5,966 reports of child abuse or neglect.  6,995 children were involved in these reports.  908 of the reports were substantiated, which means that these 908 children were proven to have been abused or neglected in our local communities.

The month of April is devoted to celebrating everything we can do to transform our community into a place that cares about – and actively supports – families and children.  By ensuring that all parents in our community have access to quality childcare, parenting education resources, affordable health services, and substance abuse and mental health programs, we make progress toward what the month stands for:  April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. 

The majority of child abuse cases stem from situations and conditions that are entirely preventable in an engaged and supportive community.  A community that cares about early childhood development and parent support is more likely to see families nurturing children who are born healthy and enter school ready to learn.  Cities and towns that work to create good school systems and who come together to ensure that affordable housing is available in good, safe neighborhoods are less likely to see stressed, isolated families who don’t know where to turn.

Child Abuse Prevention Month is about connecting all of these dots so that the solutions to child abuse can become a reality.  Most people think that child abuse is an important issue, but feel that they alone can do nothing to help.  You Can Help!  Take time to learn more about what you can do to support child abuse prevention in our community by calling the Family Enrichment Center.  We work every day to remind people that there is hope.  Our mission is to empower families and prevent child abuse by providing education, social support, crisis intervention, and a safe environment for parents and their children. 

This year we have organized a Proclamation signing in 9 of the 10 BRADD Counties!  There will also be a display of “Pinwheels for Prevention” at each event signifying the number of substantiations (children abused and/or neglected) in each county for 2009.  Please join us.

PROCLAMATIONS Signings:

• •    March 24th – Edmonson County Proclamation Signing – 8:15a. in the Edmonson County Court Room (Contact:  Mary Lindsey at Mary. Lindsey@ky.gov 270-597-2163)
• •    March 26th – Monroe County  Proclamation Signing – 10:00a.m. at the courthouse (Contact: Shane Little at Shane. Little@ky.gov 270-487-6701)
• •    April 1st – Allen County Proclamation Signing at 9:00a.m at City Hall (Contact:  Jessica Humphrey 270-237-3101 Jessica. Humphrey@ky.gov)
• •    April 1st – Barren County Proclamation Signing at 10:00a.m. at the BC Courthouse (Contact:  Joan Norris, DCBS at Joan. Norris@ky.gov)
• •    April 1st – Butler County Proclamation signing at 9:00 a.m. at the Education Complex (Contact:  Daisy Bishop, Butler Co. FRYSC – 270-526-5660 Daisy. Bishop@Butler.kyschools.us)
• •    April 1st – Hart County Proclamation Signing at 10:00am at Judge Terry Shelton’s office (Contact:  Tara Wilson at Tara. Wilson@ky.gov)
• •    April 1st – ¬Logan County Proclamation Signing at 11:30am. at Logan County Courthouse (Contact:  Missy Perry at  Missy. Perry@ky.gov 726-3516)
• •    April 1st – Metcalfe County Proclamation Signing at 10:00a. at the old Courthouse (Contact: Melody Grindle at Melody. Grindle@ky.gov  at 270-432-2721)
• •    April 1st – Warren County proclamation signing at 10:00am in the office of Mayor Elaine Walker, City Hall (Contact:  Nickie Jones – 781-6714/ Dawn Long – 783-4957