Beech Tree News Network

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.childwelfare.govproclaims April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It states that this month is “ a time to recognize that we each can play a part in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in communities.”

Thursday, here in Butler County, a proclamation was signed showing local support of the effort. Numerous area enforcement officials attended as Judge Fields signed the document. Morgantown Mayor Linda Keown was unable to attend but will sign later.

Pictured above: Seated-Shelia Coleman, Victims Advocate Commonwealth’s Attorney Office; Judge Executive David Fields; Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward, Second row-Brittany Barnett, Social worker Protection and Permanency (P&P); Melissa Taul, Crisis Intervention Counselor; Cindy Sellers, Victims Advocate Hope Harbor; Wanda Nevins, Family Service Office Supervisor (P&P), Back row-Blake Beliles, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney; Jonathan Beville, Social Worker; Michael Vincent, Social Worker (P&P); Mark Yurchisin, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and Billy Phelps, Morgantown Police Chief.

Shelia Coleman, Victims Advocate with the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, provided statistics from Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky stating that in 2010, 19,500 children were substantiated as victims of abuse or neglect in Kentucky.  This is an average of 55 children per day.

 According to the proclamation:

WHEREAS,National Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed each April since its first  presidential proclamation in 1983; and,

WHEREAS,the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau reports  children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2009, approximately 3.3 million child abuse reports and allegations were made involving an estimated 6 million children. In the Barren River Region, from June 2010 through July 2011, 697 reports of abuse or neglect were substantiated with 1,087 children affected, and of these 1,087children, 86 live in Butler County; and

WHEREAS,child abuse and its effects are a community problem and finding solutions depends on  involvement among people throughout the whole community; and,

WHEREAS,effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created  among social service agencies such as the Coalition to Prevent Child Abuse, a local group consisting of the Family Enrichment Center, the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, CASA, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Hope Harbor, Morgantown Police Department, Save Our Children Coalition, Butler County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky State Police, Barren River Area Safe Space, Butler County Attorney's Office, Butler County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, schools, religious communities, civic organizations, and the business community; and,

WHEREAS,the official recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month by the City of  Morgantown and Butler County affords child abuse prevention advocates an opportunity to coordinate their efforts and to educate the public in unison, causing citizens to become more aware of the negative effects of child abuse and the strategies for preventing child abuse.

NOW, THEREFORE,we, Linda Keown, Mayor of the City of Morgantown and David Fields, Judge  Executive of the County of Butler, Kentucky, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2012 as  NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH and hereby call upon all residents of Morgantown and Butler County to observe this month by continuing to build awareness and a network of services in this community that can better address the needs of children and families in distress.

 Story and photo by Roger Southerland, Beech Tree News