Cherokee County Children’s Advocacy Center Recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month

We All Can Play a Part in Preventing Child Maltreatment and Promoting Well-Being April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month Centre, AL

April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month. This month and throughout the year, The Children’s Advocacy Center encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Cherokee County a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities. Research shows that when parents possess six protective factors, the risk for neglect and abuse diminish and optimal outcomes for children, youth, and families are promoted.

The six protective factors are:

• Nurturing and attachment

• Knowledge of parenting and of child and youth development

• Parental resilience

• Social connections

• Concrete supports for parents

• Social and emotional developmental well-being

“April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children,” said Lori Harris, Executive Director. “Everyone’s participation is critical. Focusing on ways to build and promote the protective factors, in every interaction with children and families, is the best thing our community can do to prevent child maltreatment and promote optimal child development.”

This month, the CAC is hosting a number of awareness events. The CAC hosted  local and state elected officials on Friday, April 5th in an effort to educate them about the victim services provided to children at their facility.  The CAC has extended an invitation to the local pastors and church staff for an Open House on Tuesday, April 9th from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and will host their annual Proclamation Signing at the Chamber of Commerce Breakfast on Thursday morning, April 11th at the Chamber of Commerce.  The CAC will be the guest speaker at a number of civic organizations throughout the month. Cherokee County Schools will participate in Blue Ribbon Week: April 22- 26, 2019. This week will focus on a unified and positive commitment towards keeping our children safe.  The Children’s Advocacy Center is also sponsoring a Blue Ribbon Sunday on April 29th. Churches are encouraged to ask their congregations to participate in a time of awareness and prayer for the children that need to be rescued and those that rescue them.

In addition to these awareness efforts, a local group of concerned citizens and family members of Amberly Barnett have organized a walk in her memory on Saturday, April 6, 2019. Organizers wanted to raise awareness about child abuse and in doing so plan to donate the proceeds to The Children’s Advocacy Center. This is just one of many efforts throughout the community to raise awareness about child abuse.

The annual pinwheel garden is on display in front of the Cherokee County Courthouse. This display represents the 257 children affected by the 177 reports of child abuse that were investigated by The Cherokee County Department of Human Resources. The CAC provided services to 100 abused children and their non-offending caregivers over the past year.

 If you would like to know more about how you can help, please contact the CAC at cherokeecac@tds.net or by calling 256-927-2111. You can also learn more about our agency or access information via our website at www.cherokeecountycac.org.

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