Prevent Child Abuse St Joe County Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2010
CONTACT: Jennifer Pickering – 574.968.9650 – jpickering@fccin.org
April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Cherishing Children… Affirming Families
During the month of April Prevent Child Abuse St Joe County will have blue ribbons and pinwheels displayed throughout the county as a reminder of the positive steps we can all take to prevent child abuse. Join us at Beutter Park for our vigil at 6:00 on April 22nd and “Wear Blue for Kids” on April 23rd. Visit the Prevent Child Abuse St Joe County website at pcasjc.orgfor more details.
- Vigil April 22nd at Beutter Park 6:00 - candlelight vigil with speakers, including Congressman Joe Donnelly). We will also announce the 2010 RoofSit logo contest winner.
- April 23rd - Wear Blue for Kids plus display of luminary bags (Available free thru Prevent Child Abuse Saint. Joseph County)
- Pinwheels displayed at the Potawatomi Zoo all month
- Blue ribbons at all 13 county libraries with info available inside (pamphlets, etc). Blue ribbons at local McDonald’s Restaurants, The Children’s Campus, WIC, University of Notre Dame
- Mega blue ribbon displayed on the side of the Crowe Horwath Building, 320 East Jefferson Boulevard.
- PSA's continue on WSBT radio stations.
- Washington High School students are selling t-shirts and wristbands
- Adams JAVA volunteer group "going blue"
Today’s children are Indiana’s future leaders, parents and workers. Our state’s future prosperity depends on their healthy development and growth. With the support of engaged communities and nurturing families, all of Indiana’s children can thrive and have the opportunity to grow into caring, contributing and healthy adults. Throughout the month of April, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana and Prevent Child Abuse St Joe County remind Hoosiers that helping our communities and families create healthy, nurturing environments for children is one of the best investments Indiana can make.
Scientists who study the brain tell us that providing all of our children — from infants to adolescents — with nurturing relationships in safe, stable environments builds healthy brain architecture and lays a foundation for future success and well-being. Nevertheless, too many Hoosier children are living in environments that undermine healthy brain development. Children who are abused or neglected, living in homes with domestic violence or substance abuse or living in chronic poverty, experience unhealthy levels of stress that are toxic to the brain and impair its growth. These children are more likely to experience life-long problems in learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health.
Preventing child abuse and neglect will take all of our efforts — from policy-makers to parents — to ensure our children have the foundation to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Prevent Child Abuse Indiana is the only statewide organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect in all its forms. As a state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, PCA Indiana supports statewide Prevention Councils representing thousands of professionals and volunteers working to engage communities, strengthen families and promote healthy child development across the state.
Prevent Child Abuse Indiana and its Prevention Councils act as educators working to heighten public awareness of the need for caring communities to promote healthy child development and what Hoosiers can do for our next generation; coalition-builders organizing concerned citizens and groups to join forces and leverage resources to prevent child maltreatment; catalysts advocating for important programs and policies that help communities support parents and help parents raise healthy children; and trainers providing professionals and volunteers with the essential skills and knowledge to help parents and communities prevent child abuse and neglect.
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Prevent Child Abuse St Joseph County has been a part of St Joseph County since 1993. We continue to work on behalf of St Joseph County’s children and families, striving to make St Joseph County a place where all children flourish, free from abuse and neglect. For more information on Prevent Child Abuse St Joseph County, contact: Jennifer Pickering at jpickering@fccin.org.