LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) – April is recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
In 1998, the Child Welfare League of America launched a public awareness campaign called Children’s Memorial Flag Day. This campaign challenged communities to set aside time on the fourth Friday of April to memorialize the children of their communities who are lost at the hands of abuse and neglect.
Therefore, every year the Children’s Home Society (CHS), along with a host of other child and family advocacy agencies, puts on an event on the fourth Friday of April at noon in front of the Greenbrier County Court House.
During this event, they raise a flag in honor of the children. This flag is red with a paper chain of blue children on it. The child in the middle is only an outline to signify the loss of that child. Additionally, they display several pinwheels for the children in the community who have been impacted by abuse or neglect. Each pinwheel represents the carefree childhood every child deserves, but in which some are unfortunately robbed.
A guest speaker is invited and they also recognize individuals in the community who are working tirelessly to keep kids safe and enjoy a performance usually done by a choir of children. To make this happen, the Children’s Home Society has a CMFD proclamation signed by the Mayor of Lewisburg, as well as the Greenbrier County Commission.
Throughout April, the CHS asks that community members show their support by wearing blue on Fridays.
Throughout the month, the CHS posts a lot of information about child abuse prevention on its Facebook page, including the centralized intake hotline number which is 1-800-352-6513. They encourage folks to take a look at the Child Welfare Dashboard provided online by DHS.
Currently, there are over 6,000 children in the state of West Virginia in the child welfare system.
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