(POUGHKEEPSIE, NY) – The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse (CPCA) is taking the lead in April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, by hosting several local events throughout the month for the community to get involved.
Each April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month strives to bring awareness on the prevalent issue of child abuse and how communities can work to prevent it. The statistic remains that 1 in 10 children will be abused before the age of 18. Dutchess County receives approximately 1,000 calls on suspected child abuse each year. Participation in Child Abuse Prevention Month activities strengthens community support systems that keep children safe and helps build healthy relationships within families.
“National Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time to celebrate the important ways in which our community can take action to protect children.” Kimberly Haight, Executive Director of The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, said. “By joining us this month, we can make a statement to our community that children deserve a healthy and safe childhood.”
Below are the following activities you are invited to join:
Family Fun Kickoff Event at Vassar College Grounds, April 11
On April 11, the CPCA will be hosting a Family Fun Kickoff Event at Vassar College Grounds in front of the Alumnae House. Families are invited to come out and enjoy music provided by Q92, as well as entertainment from Bee Bee the Clown, a petting zoo from Two By Two Animal Haven, and more. Chef Stef, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, will have a pop-up food kitchen set up for people to purchase snacks. Fifty percent of sales from the pop-up food kitchen will be donated back to support the children and families served at the CPCA.
Keeping Children Safe Training, April 12
Community members are encouraged to learn how to keep children safe from abuse by taking one of the CPCA’s free virtual training sessions. Sessions will be held over Zoom at both 10:00AM or 5:00PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn the warning signs of when a child needs your help, how to report an instance of abuse, and much more. Sign up through their website at thecpca.org/community-workshop.
Restaurant Week for Child Abuse Prevention, April 18–24
Restaurant Week for Child Abuse Prevention has returned for its second year running. Thirty restaurants around the Hudson Valley have partnered with the CPCA to donate back a portion of sales when you dine in or take out beginning Monday, April 18 and ending Sunday, April 24. The entire list of partnering businesses can be found on the agency’s website at thecpca.org/cpcarestaurantweek2022.
For the complete calendar of activities for Child Abuse Prevention Month, please visit thecpca.org/capm2022.
About the Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse
The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse is a private non-profit that has been dedicated to the reduction of child maltreatment since 1973. Each year, it serves approximately 20,000 children and provides support and education services to more than 3,000 adults. They are the only agency in Dutchess County providing sexual abuse prevention training. Support services help abused children—and educate adults to prevent future abuse. For more information, visit TheCPCA.org.
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