For Immediate Release
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month(CHICAGO, Ill) – The public is invited to join the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, HospitalSisters Health System, the Poshard Foundation for Abused Children, elected officials, child welfare stakeholders and more for a month-long observance to share child abuse and neglect prevention awareness messages and promote prevention efforts across the country during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.This year’s theme, GROWING BETTER TOGETHER, is a call to action to support each other and focus on the positive environment we all need to survive and thrive.“The past two years have been extremely difficult for all of us. While our schools, businesses, shops and restaurants were closing, reducing hours or ‘going remote’ the support services we provided to families in crisis became even more important as parents lost jobs, children faceddisruptions to a stable schedule and the pandemic weighed heavily on the mental health of so many families. Through it all we never wavered from our mission to strengthen families and keep children safe,” said Illinois DCFS Director Marc D. Smith. “We found new ways to support the families we serve. We finalized adoptions over Zoom; created a new mobile app so our youth in care can stay connected to their loved ones, caseworker and support system; and overhauled our online child abuse and neglect reporting system to make it more user-friendly and easier for anyone to report suspected abuse or neglect and keep children safer. And now, we are coming out of the pandemic stronger and more resilient than ever.”“Our world has changed. Everyone talks about getting back to normal, but the truth is we have a new normal. This new normal includes realizing that things can change in an instant, understanding that we have a responsibility to protect each other and knowing that we are all in this together,” said Denise McCaffrey, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. “Child abuse prevention needs to be part of this new normal. April is the perfect time to spread the message that all children deserve great childhoods, and we all have a role to play in keeping children safe.”To heighten awareness, Illinois DCFS will host events across the state in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month. All events are open to the public. All Illinoisans can get involved and show their commitment to ending child abuse by wearing blue on April 1 and posting pictures on social media with the hashtags #GreatChildhoods and #GoBlueIllinois.UPCOMING EVENTS:Friday, April 1, 2022CARTERVILLE kickoff event1 p.m.John A. Logan College (Building H Atrium)700 Logan College Drive, CartervilleWatch the livestream: www.facebook.com/preventchildabuseillinois/[1]Friday, April 1, 2022EDWARDSVILLE kickoff event10 a.m.Madison County Government Building157 N. Main Street, EdwardsvilleWatch the livestream:http://www.riverbender.com/video/live/details.cfm?id=1284Tuesday, April 5, 2022STATEWIDE virtual kickoff and training featuring trauma survivor and international trauma-informed care expert Tonier Cain10 a.m.Register here:https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HrdUMO-FSOyngajtbWPWPgFriday, April 1 through Saturday, April 30, 2022AURORA Art ExhibitParamount School of the Arts20 S. Stolp Ave., AuroraThe exhibit will feature artwork created by children who are currently in care or have been in care, students, local artists and individuals who care about children.For a full calendar of Child Abuse Prevention Month awareness activities occurring statewide throughout the month of April, click here[2].To report suspected child abuse or neglect, visit the DCFS Online Reporting System at https://dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov/. The user-friendly online system is an easy and convenient way for anyone to report suspected child abuse or neglect using any mobile device. In an emergency, call the DCFS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873). Calls and online reports may be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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