Everyone has a role to play to keep kids safe

Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital will commemorate the start of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month at a joint press conference at 10 a.m. on Wednesday April 4 in St. Mary’s main lobby, 1800 E. Lake Shore Drive, Decatur. Following the conference there will be a planting of blue pinwheels, one of the national symbols of child abuse prevention.

Several prominent speakers are set to give remarks at the kickoff event. Decatur Mayor Julie Moore-Wolfe will read the governor’s proclamation; and DCFS Regional Administrator Cathy Smith, St. Mary’s Hospital President and CEO, Joan Coffman, Macon County Court Appointed Special Advocates Executive Director, Steve Miller and Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Executive Director Denise McCaffrey will provide remarks.

“Children are our future and all children deserve great childhoods,” said Denise McCaffrey, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. “We need to recognize that each one of us has a role to play in preventing child abuse. It’s about our future. It’s about protecting children.”

“At DCFS, we are often ‘first responders’ when it comes to helping families in crisis, and every day we see some of Illinois’ most vulnerable children and their families,” said Illinois DCFS Acting Director B.J. Walker. “Working together we can prevent serious harm to the children and reduce trauma that will potentially affect them all of their lives. In particular, we should join together – at the community level – to reach out and touch families who are struggling and do all that we can to support them so they can support their children.”

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