Local leaders kick off child abuse prevention awareness month
State, county and city leaders dressed in blue kicked off this year's Go Blue Lubbock, an award and ribbon cutting ceremony at the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce office downtown.
Go Blue Lubbock is a local campaign promoting child abuse prevention awareness month, which is commemorated every April since 2014 and is organized by the South Plains Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention, which consists of local agencies and businesses.
The campaign encourages residents to wear blue ribbons, which is the international symbol for child abuse awareness. The symbol was first used in 1989 by Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother whose grandchildren suffered from child abuse at the hands of their parents, said Ida Chapa with Texas 2-1-1.
The blue ribbon served as a reminder to Finney of the abuse that killed her grandson and scarred her granddaughter.
"There is no greater inhumanity in the world than hurting or belittling a child," said Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney Sunshine Stanek. "If you want to see the value of a community, pay close attention to how they treat or mistreat their children."
She said in the last decade, more than 11,470 children were confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect, with 22 children dying from abuse and neglect in Lubbock County alone. Those who survived the abuse suffered long-term harm.
"Traumatized children growing into traumatized adults," she said. "At the Lubbock County DA's office, we are committed to prosecuting the cases around child abuse neglect and child fatalities. This important part of the community approach must take to combat and reduce abuse and neglect. it takes all components of the community to effectively move the needle."
She encouraged residents to report suspected child abuse, saying that not all cases result in a prosecution or the permanent separation of families. She said her office works with local non-profit groups who can provide the support families need to raise their children in a non-abusive environment.
"We work very closely with the non profits in our community to help strengthen and increase self-sufficiency in families so abuse and neglect is prevented," she said.
Terrence Kovar, the Precinct 1 Lubbock County Commissioner, read a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month in the county . The proclamation recognized the 970 Lubbock county children who were confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect last year, with four who died as a result.
Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope and Carla Olson, executive director of the Parenting Cottage, were also awarded the coalition's Cherish the Children Award for their efforts in improving the safety and well-being of children.
Olson was nominated for her work in bringing child abuse and neglect prevention efforts and funding to Lubbock county, said Lauren Westerberg, Chief Program Officer with CASA of the South Plains.
"She recognizes where action can be taken at the state level and then advocates and fights for change so we can better serve area families," she said.
Olson said she was humbled by being included in the list of recipients for the award.
"Every single one of those persons has done such a unique and exemplary job for the children in our community," she said. "I would say that it's never been like work or a job for me to be an advocate for children.
Pope, who also read a proclamation designating April as child abuse prevention awareness month, was honored for using his office to promote child abuse prevention awareness since he started serving as mayor in 2016.
"With his leadership, the city of Lubbock and the county of Lubbock have become more involved in Go Blue Lubbock initiatives and today there are business leaders like the Lubbock chamber of commerce and others who are now part of the effort, " Westerberg said.
Pope described child abuse as a cancer on society.
"We can talk about how we've gotten here bit that would take too long, but it's important that we not sweep this under the rug that we address it head on," he said. "And when we see something we say something, pick up the phone and make a phone call."
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Go Blue Lubbock campaign aims to raise awareness of child abuse
