FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 3, 2019
CONTACT: Debra Harris-Bowyer, Cabell County Family Resource Network Coordinator
P: 304.697.0255 | E: dbowyer@cabellfrn.org
CONTACT: Kaylin R. Adkins-Staten, Hourglass Omnimedia
P: 304.900.2833 | E: kaylin@hourglassomnimedia.com
Cabell County FRN, organizations promoting
child abuse prevention events, resources during April
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Every child deserves a good beginning.
Each year, the Cabell County Family Resource Network (FRN) and its partners participate in campaigns centered on child abuse prevention. West Virginia governor Jim Justice officially declared the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month across the state.
Every April during Child Abuse Prevention Month, Partners in Prevention organizations in conjunction with Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia plant pinwheel gardens in honor of children in their communities. According to Prevent Child Abuse America, people around the country are often involved in activities or actions that make a difference without even realizing it, and during April the organization is committed to shining a light on these kind of actions in order to help show that they are occurring nationwide and being undertaken by people from all demographics.
The pinwheel serves as the physical embodiment of the great childhoods we want for all children and represents efforts to ensure the healthy development of children. It is not used to represent children who have been abused or who have died as a result of abuse or neglect. It serves as a symbol of hope for great childhoods all children deserve because our children are our future.
This April, the Cabell County FRN will participate in several pinwheel garden plantings, as well as other community-oriented events. In addition, this Friday, April 5 is “Wear Blue Day.” The Cabell County FRN asks the community at large to join the efforts in supporting children across West Virginia by wearing blue on this day.
“While this is a vital month to spread awareness about child abuse prevention, we don’t just stop there,” said Debra Harris Bowyer, Cabell FRN Coordinator. “We focus on each child’s first 1,000 days by giving parents, caregivers and others the information they need to give the children in their lives a healthy beginning.”
The Cabell County FRN’s rendition of child abuse prevention awareness is the Good Beginnings Last a Lifetime campaign. It promotes children growing up in safe, healthy, nurturing environments in Cabell County by focusing on an awareness campaign to promote the importance of the First 1,000 Days of a child’s life.
The core principles of the Good Beginnings Last a Lifetime campaign include:
- Understand how a child grows and develops.
- Help a child identify his or her feelings.
- Spend caring “quality” time with them.
- Be strong in times of stress.
- Have positive relationships with parents helping parents.
- Know how to find help when you need it.
In addition, the Cabell County FRN utilizes training through creative methods to promote protective factors that mitigate risk factors. Events focus on community partner engagement for a middle school girl’s empowerment event, bullying prevention, and pro-social skills for preschoolers and their parents.
For pinwheel garden photos, visit http://www.cabellfrn.org/home/pip/pinwheels/. For more information, visit www.cabellfrn.org.
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Click to download Media Release
cabellcountyfrn_goodbeginnings_pressrelease_04.03.19
The Cabell County Family Resource Network (FRN) is a partnership of individuals, families and agencies working together to promote the well-being of children and families in Cabell County. Since its incorporation in September 1993, the Cabell County FRN has brought together a broad-based representation of partners, including business representatives, consumers, and service providers from health, education, housing, and social services. These partners are critical to improving the well-being of our families and children. The Cabell County FRN envisions a coordinated, community-based social service system responsive to the needs of families and effective in enhancing the success of individuals and families to responsibly achieve their goals.
Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia (PCA-WV) works to give children good beginnings by strengthening families and communities. This is done by implementing innovative strategies in the areas of: Effective programs, Public engagement, Sound public policy. Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia is a chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, a national leader in building awareness, providing education, and inspiring hope in everyone involved in the effort to keep children free from abuse and neglect.