April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Local groups kicked off a month of advocacy with an event at John A Logan College.
The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, and Illinois D-C-F-S hosted a resource fair and planted pinwheels at John A Logan College as their launch of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
They brought together governmental and private social service organizations allowing them to showcase the resources and help they provide to families and children - all in the hopes of preventing the abuse of children.
Jo Poshard kicked off today's event by thanking those on the front lines working to prevent child abuse, "The things they deal with every day - I don't know how they can sleep some nights. We appreciate what you do. I'd like for everyone involved with taking care of our children who have been hurt, to please stand and be acknowledged." The room filled with applause for those who stood.
This year's theme is "Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention". Poshard says there's plenty of hope and they're finding strength from all the organizations working together at today's event.
Rachel Chruszczyk is with Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. She says prevention involves not just helping children, but groups working together to help support families. "Hope tells us that when we come together as communities, as families, and as professionals, we can create a world where children are safe, are loved, and are free to reach their full potential."
Jackson County State's Attorney Marsha Cascio-Hale has only been in office a few months, but she's seen the damage abuse inflicts on children. Addressing the crowd she said, "I can't share anything new about this because you've seen it all. To those who don't work in this industry, don't let anyone tell you that child abuse and neglect is not an epidemic. They're not looking at the facts."
Chruszczyk says there's always a need to be there to help those who have been abused, but she is inspired by the power they're finding in their preventative efforts to bring down the number of abused children. "Prevention means families have the resources they need, right when they need them. From healthcare, to housing, from mental health support to economic stability, it means empowering parents with resilience so they can navigate challenges with confidence."
Megan Ragan is the Director of the Southern Illinois Resource Advocacy Center. She says her organization is out giving parents, caregivers, and the community resources to deal with problems before they spiral out of control. "We all have to take action on this. It can't be one agency or one organization doing the heavy lifting on this. We challenge every single person in our community, whether that is the lunch lady, the bus driver, or the law enforcement officer. We challenge them to look at these situations with a critical mind."
And the work they've done. Cascio-Hale says it's saving children. "Today as I look out into this room, I'm so impressed. DCFS, legislators, administrators, advocates, and social workers, you are the heroes. You are fighting for our children."
By working together, DCFS says that they've been able to serve four-thousand families through their preservation programs enabling families to stay together.
