Hartland Area Chamber Of Commerce: Child Abuse Prevention Month Campaign

Press release from the Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce:

March 26, 2021

LACASA Offers Child Abuse Prevention Information Throughout April

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and LACASA’s Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Council will offer a series of initiatives to raise awareness about preventing child abuse in our community.

A variety of activities are planned throughout the month including Wear Blue Day on April 1, education on the impact of trauma and the importance of family resilience, as well as the agency’s CAP Month kick-off event, “Plant a Pinwheel Celebration”, on Wednesday, April 7.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact how LACASA’s CAP Council reaches the community with prevention information,” said Director of Family Prevention and Education, Holly Naylor.

“While we will not be planting blue and silver community pinwheel gardens throughout the county this year, we recognize that our prevention message is too important to be put on hold for any reason. Throughout CAP Month in April, we will be sharing information about what prevention looks like, inviting local schools and organizations to create safe indoor pinwheel displays, and inviting members of our community to support the CAP Council through our home pinwheel garden fundraiser.”

The CAP Council’s annual “Plant a Pinwheel Celebration” event will take place virtually at noon on Wednesday, April 7, and will include guest speakers, children’s musical performances and the presentation of the 2021 Champion for Children award. For more information visit https://lacasacenter.org/pinwheels-for-prevention/.

“The CAP Council is always willing to bring information about abuse and neglect prevention to any group or in any format,” said Naylor. “Not just in April, but throughout the year. Prevention is a year-round effort. Please reach out and let us know how we can partner with you and your organization or business to help educate or support your own prevention efforts, whether we meet virtually now or in person later.”

For questions about CAP Month plans in April, to request a home pinwheel garden through the CAP Month fundraiser, or to inquire about bringing child abuse prevention information to your business or group, contact the CAP Council at capcouncil@lacasacenter.org or call 517-548-1350.


SIDEBAR
LACASA’s CAP Council encourages local residents to get involved in efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Livingston County Children. The following tips from PCA’s “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign are easy for everyone to implement:

• Be a friend to a parent you know. Ask how their children are doing. Draw on your own experiences to provide reassurance and support. If a parent seems to be struggling, show you understand and offer help.

• Be a friend to a child you know. Remember their names. Smile when you talk with them. Ask them about their day at school. Send them a card in the mail.

• Give your used clothing, furniture and toys for use by another family. This can help relieve the stress of financial burdens that parents sometimes take out on their kids.

• Volunteer your time and money for programs in your community that support children and families.

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ABOUT LACASA
LACASA Center is a local nonprofit organization that provides programs and services for child abuse victims and survivors. This independent agency also conducts community-wide education and awareness programs aimed at protecting children in Livingston County. Visit lacasacenter.org for more information about how you can help prevent child abuse.

This press release was produced by the Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.