Local Agencies Stand in Solidarity Against Child Abuse with Awareness Initiatives in April

During National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, six child-centered agencies in Iredell and Alexander Counties are coming together to bring awareness to a cause at the heart of their agencies.

In the Federal fiscal year 2023, 3.9 million reports were made to child protective services in this country. As a show of solidarity in the fight against child abuse, six local agencies have collaborated to bring awareness to the issue through a series of initiatives in our community. The agencies joining together are Children’s Hope Alliance, Department of Social Services, Dove House, Guardian Ad Litem of NC, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children, and Pharos Parenting.

On Thursday, March 28, 2024, the first of these initiatives will kick off with “Tie-A-Tree” blue in Harmony, Statesville, Troutman, Mooresville, and Taylorsville. Representatives from each agency, civic clubs, media, and the public will be on-site at scheduled times to tie blue ribbons to the branches of the selected tree for the duration of April. The signs placed at each tree will include a message of awareness and phone numbers for reporting abuse and neglect. A town representative will speak briefly about the importance of prevention in our community.

The community is encouraged to come and tie ribbons on the trees with the agencies. The schedule and locations are listed below.

We invite YOU to be a part of this significant moment. Join us at any of the following times and locations to tie your ribbon and stand with us in the fight against child abuse:

8 a.m.: Harmony, Tomlinson-Moore Family Park, 187 High Point Avenue
10 a.m.: Statesville, Corner of Tradd and Water Streets
12 noon: Troutman, 125 Main Street
2 p.m.: Mooresville, 148 N. Main Street
4 p.m.: Taylorsville, County Courthouse, 29 W. Main Avenue

In addition, the collaboration provided kits to local schools to “Tie-a-Tree” blue on the school’s campuses. They also provided coloring sheets with a prevention message for pediatricians’ offices and libraries to hand out.

The national symbol for child abuse prevention is the pinwheel

The national symbol for child abuse prevention is the pinwheel, as it represents the happy, carefree childhood we want for all children. Pinwheel gardens will be displayed throughout the community in April, as well. The number of pinwheels in each garden represents the number of children that have been killed at the hands of their parent or caregiver in North Carolina in 2022. Sadly, the gardens will be displaying 31 pinwheels this April.

Public encouraged to particpate in 'Wear Blue Day' on Friday, April 12

The color blue represents child abuse prevention, so the public is encouraged to participate in “Wear Blue Day” on Friday, April 12. Be sure to post pictures to social media using #WearBlueDay2024. Churches in the area are encouraged to participate in “Wear Blue Sunday” on Sunday, April 14, and use #WearBlueSunday to post to social media.

The City of Statesville will be turning the bollard lights throughout Downtown Statesville blue for the month of April while a street banner will be displayed over Broad Street for the first week of the month as a reminder to all who pass through.

To learn more about these agencies

The agencies involved have been working on the Child Abuse Prevention Campaign since January and hope that their efforts will bring to light the importance of prevention through education, awareness, and advocacy. Iredell County and Alexander County are fortunate to have so many agencies committed to the children in our community. When working together, there is a continuum of care for families, which helps to keep all children safe, healthy, and happy.

To learn more about these agencies, visit their websites below.

Children’s Hope Alliance www.childrenshopealliance.org

Department of Social Services www.iredellcountync.gov/299/Social-Services

Dove House www.dovehousecac.org/

Guardian Ad Litem of NC www.volunteerforgal.org/

Iredell County Partnership for Young Children www.iredellsmartstart.org/

Pharos Parenting www.pharosparenting.org

Originally posted by Connect Iredell, NC via Locable