April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

Mayor Declares April as Child Abuse Awareness Month

BY MELANIE BUCK –

Mena Mayor George McKee, signed a Proclamation on April 1, declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness Month.  To remind Polk County residents to be the eyes and ears for all children, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and DCFS (The Division of Children and Family Services) have collaborated to send out the message that “It Shouldn’t Hurt to be a Child – Be Their Voice!” Both agencies believe that protecting children from abuse and neglect is a vitally important responsibility.

A Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness event is being held on Wednesday, April 15th, at Faith Missionary Baptist Church from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The church is located at 2407 Sutherland Street in Mena. The event is free and is open to the community. CASA and DCFS ask that you encourage your friends and neighbors to attend.

The main focus will be raising awareness and educating adults about how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to childhood sexual abuse. Printed information will be distributed. Frank Gibson, Probation/Parole Agent, will speak about registered sex offenders and the requirements they must abide by depending on their level.

Also presenting at the event will be Ashley George, a Mental Health Professional; Brittany Quinn, Drug Court Probation/Parole Officer; and Steven Free, Drug Court Advisor. For more information on this important event please call 479-234-9674.

Child abuse is an all too common occurrence. According to childhelp.org, “there are 3 million reports of child abuse a year in the United States involving more than 6 million children. The United States has one of the worst records of child abuse among industrialized nations, losing an average of 4-7 children every day to child abuse and neglect.” Child abuse is categorized by physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect.

Studies also show that boys and girls are equally likely to be victims of abuse/maltreatment. In 2005, 47.3 percent of child victims were male, while 50.7 percent were female. Rates were the highest for children aged birth to 3 years old, with 16.5 of every 1,000 children being victims. There were 1,460 children die in 2005 as a result of abuse or neglect; 76.6 percent of those were 3 years old and younger.

To report child abuse call 1-800-482-5964. To find out more information about CASA please call Cynthia Martin or Renee Hendrix at 479-243-9277.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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