City Officials declared April child abuse prevention month at the Tuesday Louisville Alderment meeting.
The proclamation signed by Louisville Mayor Will Hill stated:
“Whereas Starkville Oktibbeha School District: Department of Family-Centered Programs: Emerson Family Resource Center funded by MS Department of Child Protection Services I s launching a county-wide child abuse prevention awareness month; and
Whereas, child abuse is a community problem and finding solutions depends on involvement among people throughout the community; and approximately 3 million children are reported abused and neglected in this country. Yearly referrals to state child protective services involve 6.6 million children, and around 3.2 million of those children are subject to an investigated report. Most physical abuse or neglect occurs among children under the age of two, during a critical period of brain development.
Whereas, according to the 2018 report from the MS Child Protection Services, there were 4,355 investigations with at least one allegation of child abuse and neglect substantiated in the state of MS, 21 investigations with at least substantiated allegation in Winston County. We strive to significantly decrease this rate to where every child in this county lives a safe, protected life and the effects of child abuse are felt by whole communities and needs to be addressed by the entire community.
Whereas, the effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community.
There has been significant collaboration between treatment providers in the Child Protective System for family members to receive chemical dependency treatment that has led the return of children in their homes. All citizens should become more aware of the negative effects of child abuse and its prevention within the community and become involve in supporting parents to raise their children in a safe nurturing environment.
The City of Louisville and Winston County hereby proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.”
