Child Abuse Awareness month recognized with proclamation
CENTER TWP — On Tuesday, the Child Advocacy Center and Butler County commissioners came together in hopes of turning the tide for Child Abuse Awareness month using pinwheels and a proclamation.
The blue pinwheels set in the center’s lawn at Mahood Road represent prevention as the best fight against child abuse, according to Amanda Feltenberger, the center’s director of integrated services.
“Prevention is before it ever happens. We want to get so far ahead of it that it doesn’t happen,” she said. “That’s the responsibility of the community.”
County Commissioners Leslie Osche and Kevin Boozel gave a proclamation at the center to convey that responsibility, saying abuse is a problem affecting every community.
“This is a great opportunity for awareness,” Boozel said of the event. “Being in fire service, I would love if there was additional training for first responders on the signs of child abuse. We need to be alert and aware.”
Osche took time to thank workers at the Child Advocacy Center for the services they provide the county’s youth.
“We’re not on the front line. You are. We can sense the stress you’re experiencing daily,” she said.
The proclamation also serves as a reminder for people who are mandated to report child abuse, and make the public aware that doctors, dentists, teachers, church volunteers and others are watchful eyes for signs of abuse.
“Anybody can speak up about child abuse. Anybody can call ChildLine. It’s a community’s responsibility to speak up,” said Danielle Schmidt, executive director at the center.
The number of abuse cases reported statewide declined slightly from 2019 to 2020, according to Schmidt, but that doesn’t mean abuse decreased. With children being out of school, there were less opportunities for teachers to report suspected abuse.
In 2019, there were 338 children seen at the center and 284 seen in 2020.
Schmidt said that the center mainly sees children who are victims of sexual abuse, and that their case numbers are rising.
“In 2022, we saw 297 kids total. Those aren’t the only ones that have had anything happen to them,” she said.
The center is pursuing multiple awareness opportunities to inform the public about child abuse prevention, Schmidt said. From social media posts to sending outreach information to local schools, the goal is to remind everyone that the center has a mission for the community.
Feltenberger highlighted Blue Sunday, planned for April 30, a day of child abuse awareness events.
Churches in the area will be recognizing Child Abuse Awareness month in their sermons on Blue Sunday, and the center is holding its annual “Strike Out Child Abuse” event at Family Bowlaway. Proceeds from the bowling event will benefit the center.
Attendees of the proclamation received a batch of blue and silver pinwheels and road signs to display for the month of April.
“I think my message is you can’t stand on the side line. You can’t just put the pinwheels up,” Osche said.
“Strike Out Child Abuse” from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at Family Bowlaway, 540 Fairground Hill Road.
To preregister a group or learn more information, visit butlercountycac.org/strikeoutchildabuse.
