Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Maine State Troopers BLUE Ribbon Relay to Prevent Child Abuse & Neglect
To highlight awareness of child abuse and neglect prevention activities in Maine, our State Troopers will be engaged in the Third Annual “Blue Ribbon Relay” to the State House this Thursday, March 30, 2006. Troopers will arrive at the State Capital at 1:00pm where a rally will be held in the Hall of Flags. Governor Baldacci is expected to declare April as child abuse prevention month and several other key speakers will speak to advocates about the need for and value of prevention. County prevention councils will display their programs throughout the afternoon.
The Hancock County Children’s Council and Maine State Troopers are co-hosting a community rally at the Down East Family YMCA, State Street, in Ellsworth at 10:00am. This year’s theme is “Safe Children and Healthy Families is a Shared Responsibility”. Each rally will last no longer than 30 minutes, and all are invited to attend. In Ellsworth, child care youngsters will meet the State Troopers, invite them for a snack, and each child will receive a book, frisbee and stickers.
Jan Clarkin, Executive Director for the Maine Children’s Trust, said the Troopers will be joined by local child abuse and neglect prevention councils and their community partners who will present the Troopers with a piece of a puzzle. The puzzle, when assembled in Augusta, will form a blue ribbon – the symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention. Clarkin said millions of people across the country have participated in Blue Ribbon campaigns by wearing the ribbons and getting involved in community activities to remind people that they can help prevent child abuse in their communities.
Clarkin said, “The Maine Children’s Trust and the Maine Association of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Councils are co-sponsoring the relay to bring awareness that child abuse and neglect is preventable and happens at the community level. Prevention efforts build on family strengths. Through prevention activities such as parent education, home visitation and parent support groups, many families are able to find the support they need to stay together and care for their children in their homes and communities.”
Child Abuse Prevention Month in April is an opportunity to focus on “Safe Children and Healthy Families Are a Shared Responsibility”. This is also an opportunity to share our appreciation for the caring efforts by our local and state law enforcement members engaged in assisting local families.
In Maine, the blue ribbon has been adopted as an awareness symbol to Prevent Child Abuse. In 1989, Bonnie W. Finney of Virginia tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van. When asked about it, she told people the tragic story of the abuse of her grandchildren, and the resulting death of her grandson. Since then, millions of people across the country have participated in Blue Ribbon campaigns by wearing the ribbons and getting involved in community activities to remind people that they can help prevent child abuse in their communities.
Ms. Finney originally chose blue to remind herself of the bruised bodies of her grandchildren. In recent years, some organizations have chosen to reinvent the symbol using a strength-based approach to celebrate “blue ribbon parents”, “blue ribbon kids” or “blue ribbon communities” that find new and innovative ways to support families.
To learn more about child abuse and neglect prevention activities in Hancock County, please contact Candy Eaton at the Hancock County Children’s Council, 667-5304 ext. 261 or email: children@downeasthealth.org.
April is National Prevent Child Abuse Month
The Hancock County Children’s Council and Maine State Troopers are co-hosting a community rally at the Down East Family YMCA, State Street, in Ellsworth at 10:00am. This year’s theme is “Safe Children and Healthy Families is a Shared Responsibility”. Each rally will last no longer than 30 minutes, and all are invited to attend. In Ellsworth, child care youngsters will meet the State Troopers, invite them for a snack, and each child will receive a book, frisbee and stickers.
Jan Clarkin, Executive Director for the Maine Children’s Trust, said the Troopers will be joined by local child abuse and neglect prevention councils and their community partners who will present the Troopers with a piece of a puzzle. The puzzle, when assembled in Augusta, will form a blue ribbon – the symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention. Clarkin said millions of people across the country have participated in Blue Ribbon campaigns by wearing the ribbons and getting involved in community activities to remind people that they can help prevent child abuse in their communities.
Clarkin said, “The Maine Children’s Trust and the Maine Association of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Councils are co-sponsoring the relay to bring awareness that child abuse and neglect is preventable and happens at the community level. Prevention efforts build on family strengths. Through prevention activities such as parent education, home visitation and parent support groups, many families are able to find the support they need to stay together and care for their children in their homes and communities.”
Child Abuse Prevention Month in April is an opportunity to focus on “Safe Children and Healthy Families Are a Shared Responsibility”. This is also an opportunity to share our appreciation for the caring efforts by our local and state law enforcement members engaged in assisting local families.
In Maine, the blue ribbon has been adopted as an awareness symbol to Prevent Child Abuse. In 1989, Bonnie W. Finney of Virginia tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van. When asked about it, she told people the tragic story of the abuse of her grandchildren, and the resulting death of her grandson. Since then, millions of people across the country have participated in Blue Ribbon campaigns by wearing the ribbons and getting involved in community activities to remind people that they can help prevent child abuse in their communities.
Ms. Finney originally chose blue to remind herself of the bruised bodies of her grandchildren. In recent years, some organizations have chosen to reinvent the symbol using a strength-based approach to celebrate “blue ribbon parents”, “blue ribbon kids” or “blue ribbon communities” that find new and innovative ways to support families.
To learn more about child abuse and neglect prevention activities in Hancock County, please contact Candy Eaton at the Hancock County Children’s Council, 667-5304 ext. 261 or email: children@downeasthealth.org.
April is National Prevent Child Abuse Month
