April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month

Dallas County Joins National Movement to Prevent Child Abuse
Child Abuse Prevention Month raises awareness that everyone plays a role in prevention.

Join the Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council (DCCAC) and the Community Partnerships for Protecting Children (CPPC) in helping to celebrate Child Abuse Prevention Month this April in Dallas County.  If you have driven by the Dallas County Courthouse in Adel you probably noticed the planters filled with the blue and silver Pinwheels for Prevention.  We also invite community members to pick up a pinwheel with a $1.00 donation from a display at some of the local libraries. The pinwheel has become the new symbol for child abuse prevention.  It represents hope for a brighter tomorrow and the joyful and carefree childhood that every child should have.  The pinwheel also recognizes the importance of supporting parents in their efforts to raise happy and successful children.  DCCAC and CPPC will also be holding a booth at the April 12 Toddler Fest that will be held from 10 am – 12 pm on the Dallas County Fairgrounds in Adel. 

Hundreds of communities across the nation participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month by raising awareness that child abuse is preventable and what community members can do to ensure families are supported.  DCCAC and CPPC help provide the knowledge, skills, and the resources that parents/caregivers need to care for their children.  We help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities.  Furthermore, we are dedicated to making Dallas County a place where children grow up safe, nurtured and able to reach their full potential. 

“Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time for communities to recognize the role they play in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families,” said Steve Scott, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Iowa.  “Creating a strong foundation in the early years of a child’s life leads to better outcomes in health, learning and productivity throughout a lifetime.  By working with parents/caregivers to prevent child abuse, we’re building a stronger community for the future.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

For more information contact Dena Owens with the Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council at denarowens@gmail.com or 515-986-7255 or Jenny Felt with the Community Partnership for Protecting Children at jfelt@dhs.state.ia.us or 515-993-1710.