Fighting Child Abuse

Saturday, April 2, 2011
Brooke, left, and Nikki Robertson of Cloverdale put pinwheels in the ground in front of the buzzbomb statue at the Putnam County Courthouse in honor of Child Abuse Month.

Residents of Cloverdale and Greencastle may wonder what the blue ribbons and numerous pinwheels represent when they drive by the Cloverdale Town Hall or the Putnam County Courthouse.

What they represent are the 94 victims of child abuse last year.

The pinwheels placed in the group don't total to 94. They, along with the blue ribbons that mark storefronts and trees in town, serve as a reminder for why families need to be aware of child abuse, and what can be done to stop it.

County Commissioners Kristina Warren and Nancy Fogle were on hand as Shelly Chadd of the Department of Child Services spoke to a small crowd about the damages child abuse can do to a child and his or her family.

Tammy Hunter of Head Start also spoke to the group and talked about the five supportive factors for a family: nuturing and attachment, child youth development, parent resiliance, social connections and concrete support for parents.

"Strong families need healthy communities," Hunter said.

The parents and children began to place pinwheels in front of the statue after the declaration was signed. Nearby was a sign addressing the 94 confirmed cases of child abuse in the past year.

The Putnam County Cherish the Children Committee is also planning a "Blue Ribbon Tree" event, where families, individuals or groups in town can construct a tree, or use an existing one, and decorate the tree with blue ribbons to represent something important to them.

Putnam County Commissioners Kristina Warren and Nancy Dennis signed a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse month and recognizing the efforts of programs such as the Department of Child Services, the Putnam County Youth Development Commission, the Mental Health Association and several others. From left to right, back row, Elizabeth Butts and Cari Cox of Family Support Services, Eileen Johnson of the Mental Health Association, Linda Merkel from the PCYDC, Shelly Chadd of the Department of Child Services, middle row, Patti Harmless of the of the PCYDC/C.A.S.A program, Tammy Hunter of Head Start, and commissioners Warren and Dennis in the front.

The tree decorating will take place throughout the month of April.

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  • "Town commissioners Kristina Warren and Nancy Dennis" Did you guys send out the cub reporter to report on all the news lately?

    -- Posted by CdaleResident on Sat, Apr 2, 2011, at 5:49 AM
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