City will mark Child Abuse Prevention Month with flag-raising at City Hall

Date: 3/31/2009

By Lori Szepelak

Correspondent



SPRINGFIELD -- The city will join nearly 300 organizations nationwide on April 15 to mark April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Mayor Domenic Sarno will preside over the 10 a.m. flag-raising ceremony on the steps of City Hall that will bring together dozens of area human and social services agency directors and staff, as well as school children.

Many local organizations are expected to participate in the event.

The flag used for the occasion was designed by a 16-year-old from California, and depicts children as blue cutouts on a red background, the missing middle child symbolizing all children who have been lost to violence.

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) urges all participants to fly the flag all month in support of efforts to protect children from harm. Nearly three million children are reported abused and neglected each year in this country, according to the CWLA.

CHD officials invite all area organizations committed to preventing child abuse and neglect to join the rally at City Hall. For more information, contact CHD representatives John Roberson, vice president of children and family services, at 439-2243, or Jim Williams, program director of the children's programs, at 781-6556.