Annual STAND Against Child Abuse
On April 12, 2019, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., dozens of agencies and organizations will gather on the front lawn of Kentucky Wesley College, where they will provide fun activities for children, as well as information about services available to families.
This free event is sponsored by GRADD’s Community Collaboration for Children (CCC) Regional Network and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health & Family Services’ Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). The event is held during Child Abuse Prevention Month with the goal of both raising awareness of the issue of child abuse, as well as to provide a measure of prevention by making parents aware of community services that can provide support for the often stressful job of parenting.
Kristy Clark, CCC Regional Coordinator, states, “Child abuse is a difficult topic, and the prevalence of abuse is often underestimated. The focus of the STAND is to bring awareness to the existence of abuse and to rally as a community in advocating for the safety of children, and to let families know that there is a community to support them in being the best parents possible.”
According to the most recent DCBS statistics, Kentucky Child Protective Services investigated 6,150 allegations of abuse/neglect of minors within the seventeen counties of their Two Rivers Region in 2018—including 3,460 substantiated victims of abuse/neglect.
In addition to the bounce houses, petting zoo, and other fun activities, this year’s STAND Against Child Abuse will feature a balloon release, sponsored by Sunrise Children’s Services, to represent the number of fatalities and near fatalities as a result of child abuse or neglect in the State of Kentucky.
To report an incident of suspected abuse/neglect, please call the Kentucky Child Protection Hotline at 1-877-597-2331 or your local law enforcement agency.