APRIL 2008 - CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
Events
KICK OFF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
April 2, 2008
“Parenting: One Tough Job”
Join with legislators, families, child advocates and prevention organizations from across the state to kick off CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
9:00 am
East Wing, Capitol Rotunda
Harrisburg, PA
DOWNLOAD DETAILS
Painting for Prevention in Philadelphia.
On April 8, residents of My Sister's Place, a substance abuse recovery facility, painted a mural which they had designed. The project was supported by the City of Philadelphia, Dept. of Human Services Parenting Collaborative and PFSA.
April 18, 2008
"Parenting: One Tough Job"
Join with legislators, families, child advocates and prevention organizations from across the state to celebrate Child Abuse Prevention Month.
10 AM to 2 PM
Court house Square
Scranton, PA
DOWNLOAD DETAILS
April 26, 2008
"Parenting: One Tough Job"
Join with legislators, families, child advocates and prevention organizations from across the state to celebrate Child Abuse Prevention Month.
12:00 - 4:00 PM
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
10 Children's Way - Pittsburgh, PA 15212
DOWNLOAD DETAILS
Click here for a review of media coverage of the Pittsburgh mural event and links to media sites featuring the event.
About Child Abuse Prevention Month- WHY BLUE RIBBONS?
In the spring of 1989, a grandmother named Bonnie Finney took a stand against child abuse in Norfolk, Virginia. She tied a blue ribbon on the antenna of her mini van in remembrance of her late grandson and as a signal to her community that child abuse continues to be a devastating social plague.
Her grandson, Michael Wayne "Bubba" Dickenson and his siblings lived an at-risk existence in an abusive home environment. Despite Finney's efforts to intervene on behalf of her grandchildren, his mother's boyfriend murdered three-year-old Bubba. His body was found, bound, beaten and bruised, in a weighted toolbox at the bottom of a canal.
"One day I was just thinking about all the bruises I had seen on my grandchildren," Finney said. "I just decided I was going to tie a blue ribbon on my van. Why blue? I intend never to forget the battered, bruised bodies of my grandchildren. Blue serves as a constant reminder to me to fight for protection for our children."
Finney's personal campaign to raise public awareness of child maltreatment was joined by a Norfolk parent assistance program and a local radio station. Soon, stores, businesses, schools, churches, civic organizations and social service agencies were participating in the campaign and thousands of blue ribbons were displayed in the name of child abuse prevention. The spirit of her blue ribbon grew and inspired a statewide community-based effort to prevent child abuse in every town, every community and every city and county. Click here to read a letter from Bonnie Finney.
Bonnie Finney's simple act of education and remembrance has inspired a nationwide movement and led states throughout the country participate in the campaign by designating the month of April each year Child Abuse Prevention Month.
"The blue ribbon (click here to order blue ribbon pins) serves as a constant reminder to fight for the protection of children," Finney explained. "We must protect our most precious gift of all - our children. Even if we just change one child's life, it would be worth it. I don't want other parents or grandparents to go through what we've been through. During the month of April, I hope all Americans will wear a blue ribbon, put one on their cars, give them to friends and tell anyone who asks what it means. You may save a child's life."
Can one person make a difference? Bonnie Finney did...and you can too. Click here to find out what you can do to prevent child abuse.
Child Abuse Prevention Month Materials
Partners in Child Abuse Prevention and Family Strengthening
"Being a parent is one tough job"
Local & County Events
List your event on this website. Download this flyer.
- McKean County: Series to examine child abuse issues in McKean County
Download Details
Download Press Release
- Washington County: "Be Engaged and Thankful" Children's Art Contest
Contact Jane Zupancic at Washington County Children and Youth. 724-228-6884
- Cumberland County - "Light of Hope"
April 1 at 6:00 PM at the Old Courthouse in Carlisle, PA. Speaker, blue ribbon pins, swearing in ceremony for new CASA volunteers. Contact Cumberland County CASA at 717-240-6159.
- Dauphin County - "Preventing Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation"
Training presented by Cordelia Anderson. MA. Thursday, April 10 at 8:30 AM at the Holiday Inn, Lindle Road in Harrisburg. Cost $25 per person; must register by contacting Sara Agerton at Rejoice Inc. 717-221-0722. Email sagerton@rejoice-inc.org.
- Westmoreland County - Proclamation by County Commissioners --Child Abuse Prevention Month and Be a Hero Week.
April 10 at Westmoreland County Courthouse (Commissioners Room). Contact Julie Cawoski at the Parent WISE program of Family Services of Western PA, 724-837-5410, ext 701.
- Cumberland County --“4th Annual Friends Against Child Abuse Dinner”
Saturday, April 12, 2008 from 5:30 – 10:00 at the Radisson-Penn Harris in Camp Hill. Speaker will be Raymond Broderick, from Eugene, Oregon. He is a forensic interviewer, trainer, marriage and family therapist and has a background of 44 years in law enforcement in Chicago and Eugene. There will be musical entertainment and a Silent Auction. Anyone interested in attending may contact the Children's Resource Center at 717-782-6800.
- York County - April 23 - all day seminar
Seminar to learn about Current Trends in Teen Sexual Behaviors, nationally, statewide and locally. Contact Maggie O’Brennan at CASA, 717-771-9754 or Email: mmobrennan@york-county.org.
- Fayette County - April 25 at 10:00 AM
Fayette County Courthouse. March to Union Fire Department for food and activities. Contact Crime Victims Center at 724-438-1470. Email cvc@cvcfayette.org. Fayette County's Refuse 2 Abuse Rally (newspaper coverage).
- Dauphin County - Community Action Commission Family Center
April 30, 2008 (Doors open @ 5:30 PM & Show starts @ 6:00 PM)
Camp Curtin School (2900 North 6th Street in Harrisburg)
"Stop the Violence...Keeping It Real" Event put on by the students of Harrisburg School District (Camp Curtin, Hamilton, Lincoln, and Melrose Schools) Student will be reading poetry, reading stories, acting skits out, singing songs, dancing, and stepping to speak out against violence!
Contact Persons: Chyrel Simmons, Director of Family Services Community Action Commission Family Center (717) 232-9757, ext. 113 or Erin Moore, Family Educator at Camp Curtin (717) 703-4213
