JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month - a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to support children and families.
Members from the 779th Medical Group are scheduled to read the Child Abuse Prevention proclamation at the Family Advocacy and Airman & Family Readiness Center, on Joint Base Andrews, Md., 10 a.m. April, 1, 2010, and a number of other events are scheduled throughout the month to raise child abuse awareness and prevention efforts.
A flower planting is scheduled to follow the reading. Then, on April 13, the medical group is asking everyone to dedicate two minutes of silence at noon to remember those most affected by child abuse.
As a tribute to the month, there will be blue ribbons displayed at various 779 MDG and Joint Base Andrews locations. The blue ribbon is the International symbol for child abuse prevention. The color blue was chosen to represent the bruised and battered bodies of children. Research during the past 20 years demonstrates that an array of human and social problems resist solutions if people do not respond to the urgent need to prevent the abuse and neglect of children. Billions of dollars have been spent treating victims of child abuse and maltreatment and very little has been spent on prevention. Child abuse and maltreatment is a societal problem and preventing it requires universal support.
The Department of Defense calls upon Installation Family Advocacy Programs and philanthropy to halt the epidemic of child abuse by significantly increasing their investment in prevention. For questions or more information on how to help, call 240-857-7501.