Submitted photo
From left are Police Chief Travis Bennett, Bryan LaFollette, Amy Ware, Brandon Arbogast, Christie Fortney, Mayor Jerry Marco, Margot Evick, Ellen Sycafoose-Gilmore, Chelsea Greco, Peggy Rittenhouse and Karina Shreve.
ELKINS — The city of Elkins has proclaimed the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“We appreciate groups like the Children’s Advocacy Center and Partners in Prevention, who work so hard to keep our children safe and help victims become survivors,” Mayor Jerry Marco said. “Let us come together to make sure every child grows up in a loving and supportive environment, free from the threat of abuse and neglect.”
Marco signed a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the city of Elkins, along with officials and experts in the field.
The proclamation “comes as a critical step in raising awareness and fostering community-wide action to combat the pervasive issue of child abuse and neglect,” a city press release states.
“With nearly five children tragically losing their lives every day in America due to abuse and neglect, and one in 10 children experiencing sexual abuse by the age of 18, the need for collective action is more pressing than ever,” the release states. “President Joe Biden’s national proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month underscores the significance of this cause, a tradition upheld since 1983 by presidents before him.”
The proclamation coincides with the ongoing efforts of organizations like the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center, Randolph County Partners in Prevention, and other supporters of the movement, who work to raise awareness and provide support for victims and their families.
Together with these dedicated partners, Marco calls upon the community to join in outreach endeavors aimed at reducing and preventing child abuse.
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