Activities planned for Child Abuse Prevention

by Dr. Vernon Chandler
USAG-K Family Advocacy Program

The U.S. Army Garrison-Kaiserslautern Family Advocacy Program staff was manning the gates at local military installations Wednesday to give motorists candy and information regarding child abuse prevention.

“We have a full month of Child Abuse Prevention Month activities planned for the Kaiserslautern area,” said Devon Paul, USAG-K emergency placement care coordinator and project officer for prevention month programs.

There are a variety of events planned to promote healthy families.
Special activities include a pool party, teen dance, family fun night, puppet show, commissary information booths, a lunch-n-learn, parent reading programs and a blue ribbon campaign.

Ms. Paul said the blue ribbon pays tribute to those children who are victims of child abuse.

“We will be passing out blue ribbons at all our activities,” she said. “We hope everyone in the garrison participates in at least one of our events.”

There was also a Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation signing Wednesday at the Community Information Forum. Lt. Col. Mechelle B. Hale, USAG-K commander, officially kicked off the month’s observance.

Child Abuse Prevention Month is devoted to celebrating everything we can do to transform the community into a place that cares about – and actively supports – families and children.

“The majority of child abuse cases stem from situations and conditions that are entirely preventable in an engaged and supportive community,” said Judy Kintz, a social worker with USAG-K’s New Parent Support Program.  “A community that cares about early childhood development, parental support and maternal mental health, for instance, is more likely to see families nurturing children who are born healthy and enter school ready to learn.”

For more information regarding Child Abuse Prevention Month activities this month, call Ms. Paul at at the USAG-K Family Advocacy Program at 493-4331 or 0631-3406-4331.