A Penny For Your Thoughts

Blue ribbons abound in recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Fairfax County and across the nation. The blue ribbon campaign, supported by a coali-tion of individuals and organizations dedicated to keeping kids safe, encourages everyone to share in the responsibility of preventing child abuse and neglect.

Child abuse is no accident. Any mistreatment of a child by a parent or caregiver that results in harm or injury may be child abuse. Physical abuse may be indicated by hitting, burning, biting, or shaking. Neglect may be evidenced by lack of food, proper clothing, medical care, or supervision. Abuse also may be sexual or emotional in nature.

According to statistics compiled by Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, there were 5586 reports of child abuse and neglect involving 7666 children between July 30, 2001 and June 30, 2002. Of those calls, 851 reports were founded cases involving 1127 children in Northern Virginia. To help combat this scourge against children, SCAN has formed the Allies in Prevention Coalition, bringing together leading local child abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment professionals in a concerted effort to increase public education and awareness. SCAN also provides direct parent education and advocates for children in the community, the legislature, and the courts.

At a well-attended luncheon last week to observe the beginning of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Allies in Prevention presented awards to several child advocates in the region. Among those honored were Gloria Starr, a Mason District resident who coordinates Project Family/Proyecto Familia in Arlington County, and Chuck Berlin, a Fairfax County social worker who coordinates a mentoring program for parents. The luncheon at McCormick and Schmick’s restaurant in Tyson’s Corner was sponsored by the Freddie Mac Foundation and featured First Lady of Virginia, Lisa Collis, who volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Alexandria for several years before she moved to the Governor’s Mansion with her husband, Mark Warner.

The 10th Annual Child Abuse Prevention Breakfast, sponsored by Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect (HACAN), will be held at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, on Friday, April 16, beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information about the breakfast and HACAN’s programs, call Carmen Fernandez at 703/208-1550.

Fairfax County Child Protective Services (CPS) offers training free-of-charge to community agencies about child abuse and neglect, what happens when you make a report of abuse, and the role of CPS. Call the CPS Hotline at 703/324-7400 for more information. For more information about how you can prevent child abuse and neglect in Northern Virginia, contact SCAN at www.scanva.org.