MANSFIELD — April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year, Richland County Children Services (RCCS) encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Richland County a better place for children and families.
The theme this year is “Doing Things Differently: Moving from the Challenge to the Change.” The theme urges us to intentionally explore, engage and invest innovative, new ideas to transform the way we partner with families to deliver services and supports.
Richland County Children Services (RCCS) employees are at the heart of all we do for the children and families we serve in Richland County. For 141 years, RCCS has changed lives.
“Our staff continues a tradition of constantly seeking the best solutions to the needs of abused, neglected and dependent children and their families,” said Nikki Harless, Executive Director of Richland County Children Services.
“Helping families struggling with abuse and addiction and creating homes through adoption and foster is part of the vital work of our staff. “
To help spread awareness for child abuse prevention, Richland County Children Services (RCCS) is inviting individuals, churches, organizations, businesses, and schools to tie a blue ribbon on their door, mailbox, or car antenna during the month of April.
The blue ribbon is the international symbol for child abuse prevention.
It serves as a reminder that all of us have a responsibility in helping protect children.
In support of this effort, downtown Mansfield is going “blue” in April. The city is tying blue ribbons around lamp posts, and the downtown gazebo in Central Park will be lit with blue lights in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“The most important thing we can do to help children thrive is to support families before they reach a crisis. To make child abuse less likely to occur, we need to invest in our community and our families,” said Brigitte Coles, RCCS Community Engagement Specialist.
“Each year, we educate and raise awareness about the impact child abuse has on children and society.
“Providing information about comprehensive best-practices that are known to build parental capacity through protective factors is key in helping families become more resilient.”
National Child Abuse Prevention Month is more than just raising awareness about the reality of child maltreatment. It’s about taking action to reduce it. RCCS is helping to reduce abuse and neglect by providing our families with the support they need.
There are certain issues such as a family’s neighborhood, income level, or other societal factors that can make parenting more challenging.
By reducing these vulnerabilities through strengths-based approaches that truly support families, we can begin to mitigate child maltreatment and improve the outcomes of children, youth, and families.
RCCS is marking National Child Abuse Prevention Month with several activities:
Child Abuse Prevention Month Kick Off, Richland County Courthouse, 50 Park Ave East, Commissioners Board Room, Thursday, March 28, 9:30 a.m.
The Richland County Commissioners will present a Proclamation in observance of April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Proclamations will also be issued by the cities of Mansfield, Ontario, Shelby, and the Village of Bellville.
Blue Ribbons/Blue Ribbon Trees for Prevention, April 1.
Blue ribbons will be on display in downtown Mansfield for Child Abuse Prevention Month courtesy of RCCS, the city of Mansfield, the Mansfield United Lions Club, Rominus James Productions and Tara’s Floral.
The community can participate by displaying blue ribbons on a tree, door, fence, on your vehicle or mailbox.
The blue ribbon is the international symbol for child abuse prevention. Participants can take pictures of their blue ribbons/blue ribbon trees and send them via email to Brigitte.Coles@jfs.ohio.gov for publication on the agency’s website and Facebook page.
April activities include:
Wear Blue Day Wednesday, April 10. Wear Blue Day is an annual statewide event to spread awareness on the important issues of child abuse, neglect, and dependency.
On this day local businesses, offices, schools, agencies, factories, retail outlets and media partners are asked to Wear Blueto show unity against child abuse and neglect.
Participants can take pictures of themselves, their group, classmates, or co-workers wearing blue and send them via email to Brigitte.Coles@jfs.ohio.gov for publication on the agency’s website and Facebook page.
Free Blue-Ribbon Cookie -Wear Blue Day, April 10 at Buckeye Bakery, 21 E. 4th Street, Mansfield.
RCCS has teamed up with Buckeye Bakery for Wear Blue Day on Wednesday, April 10, to give the first 100 customers wearing blue a free cookie in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Central Park Gazebo Goes Blue, April 1 to 30.
The Central Park Gazebo in downtown Mansfield will be lit in blue lights in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
For more information about child abuse prevention programs and activities go to richlandcountychildrenservices.org. Please call the Richland County Children Services 24-hour child abuse hotline at 419-774-4100 to report child abuse and neglect.