Wrapping Up Child Abuse Prevention Month

We feel we've contributed the best we can to promoting National Child Abuse Prevention Month here at CHS-Parkersburg. We were so pleased right at the beginning of the month, to have area Methodist churches include our pinwheels in an Easter Egg Hunt. This led to the churches setting up pinwheel gardens throughout the month to raise awareness of child abuse prevention, and encourage people they could make a difference. We had several events with our students in our after school program, including hanging up the banner made last year by the art class at Jackson Middle School on our sign in front of our offices. We had our community forum on "What the community can do to Support Families and Prevent Child Abuse," and another forum on the DHHR's efforts to provide family supports through private agencies providers. We participated in the Children's Memorial Flag Day ceremony down at Government Square, where, despite the somber reality of commemorating child deaths, we reminded the community that everyone can make a difference and contribute to strengthening families and reducing the risks of child abuse. We continue to feel our greatest contribution to preventing child abuse is the daily work of all our staff at supporting and nurturing and strengthening families by our help and advocacy and service.