April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

The Blue Ribbons are Back!

Child Abuse Prevention Month will kick off at 12 noon April 2 with the tying of several Big Blue Ribbons on the pavilion on the McGuire Green in front of Asheville City Hall. The purpose of the event is to increase awareness of child abuse, encourage involvement in prevention, and demonstrate a community commitment to protect all children.

There will be brief remarks by city officials and Becky Brown, Board President of Child Abuse Prevention Services, Inc. (CAPS), and a moment of silence for the 3,985 children reported as abused or neglected last year in Buncombe County.

“We come not to lament but to prevent, to raise awareness of child abuse and to encourage involvement in prevention, treatment, and protection of all children – our future,” says Brown. “There is no excuse for abuse and child abuse prevention is everyone’s business.”

In addition to tying blue ribbons to demonstrate commitment to preventing child abuse and supporting survivors CAPS will present the Blue Ribbon Award to a community member.

The Blue Ribbon was chosen as a symbol of child abuse prevention when Bonnie Finney, a grandmother in Virginia, tied a blue ribbon on her car after her grandson was fatally abused. It was a signal to her community of her commitment to involve everyone in the battle against child abuse; she chose blue after seeing her grandson’s battered blue body. This small action by one person has evolved into a national campaign with millions of blue ribbon across the country every April.

“The numbers are staggering,” says Bill McGuire, Director of CAPS. “One in five children will experience abuse, half will be under six years old, and, tragically, four children will die every day from abuse and neglect. There are over five million children reported abused or neglected in the U.S. every year, over 125,000 in NC, and almost 4,000 right here in Buncombe County. Abuse crosses all lines and knows no boundaries.

“Usually the abuser is known to the child, and often is someone who is supposed to love and protect them. Behind each of these numbers is a face, a child – our future,” he said. “And, hopefully through awareness, we can break the cycle of abuse that breaks children’s hearts, their lives and their spirits, and all children can have a safe, healthy childhood.”

Brown, president of the Board of CAPS said, “Education is turning the tide against abuse. Increased awareness will result in more parents teaching their children personal safety, in true open communication, and more disclosures leading to cessation of abuse along with counseling. Hopefully, working together as a community and individually we can make a difference, and one day all children, our most precious, yet most vulnerable asset can have a safe, healthy childhood and we won’t need to be here. That would be the best of all possible worlds.”

For information or to become a donor or supporter call 254-2000 or email: [email protected]. or visit www.childabusepreventionservices.org.