From Staff Reports
Puxico Mayor Rick McLean was one of several mayors in Stoddard County to signed proclamations declaring April to be Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. The residents of these communities have taken an important step to build awareness and inspire collective action around the prevention of what many have called a public health crisis. Mother-To-Mother in cooperation with Missouri's Childrens Trust Fund,
The other mayors are Dexter Mayor Joe Weber, Bloomfield Mayor Bill Aslin, Advance Mayor Carl Ritter and Bell City, Mayor Howard Pikey.
Kids First and the communities of Stoddard County all joined together to promote safe and healthy childhoods to help produce confident and successful adults.
Displaying a pinwheel or planning a pinwheel garden in April will serve as a positive reminder that together, child abuse and neglect can be prevented.
Following are other ways to make a family stronger and keep children safe:
* Showing your child each day that he or she is loved by talking, smiling, or hugging
* Learning what children can do at different ages and better ways to parent
* Remaining positive and strong when you face a challenge or are under stress.
* Keeping helpful and supportive family, friends, and neighbors around you
* Showing your child you care about him or her; encourage children to talk about feelings
* Carefully choosing who cares for your child; not every relative or friend is a safe choice
* Getting help if you are unable to provide care, food, medical care, or keep your child safe
In April 1983, President Ronald Reagan established April as Child Abuse Prevent Month. For the past 34 years, April has become a time in which communities are asked to focus on ways in which child abuse can be prevented.
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the pinwheel as the new national symbol for child abuse prevention through Pinwheels for prevention. Research shows that people respond to the pinwheel. By the very nature, the pinwheel denotes whimsy and childlike notions. In essence it has come to serve as the physical embodiment, or reminder, of the great childhoods we want for all children.
As quoted in the proclamation ....."The 'planting of pinwheel gardens' in April will serve as a positive reminder that together, we can prevent child abuse and neglect. This is certainly true in Stoddard County. According to Melinda Sweeney, director of Mother-to-Mother, "There has been an outpouring of support for preventive efforts here in Stoddard County. Each community will have their own Pin Wheel Garden'. The teachers of this county have assisted in raising money for the purchase of pinwheels. Students from Beta Clubs and FCCLAs plus their sponsors will be 'planting' the pinwheels....grade school children are coloring pinwheel sheets......and many schools are participating in Go Blue Day where students are asked to wear some color of blue. Churches are being asked to participate in 'Blue Sunday' which is the last Sunday in April. Blue Sunday is a day where prayers are given in behalf of the survivors of child abuse and those who helped them to survive. All of this done in the name of public awareness."
Mrs. Sweeny went on to say, "It is natural for Mother-to-Mother to assist in the coordination of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. We were established over 15 years ago as a primary prevention program helping young mothers to be good parents, continue their education, seek employment and otherwise empower them to be productive citizens".
By achieving these goals our young moms will be giving their children a positive start in life. Mother-to-Mother is one of the programs operated through The Regional Health Care Foundation and is responsible for coordinating preventive activities for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month.