Candlelight Vigil Planned To Remember Abuse Victims
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Last year, 41 children died in Indiana from abuse or neglect, according to information provided by the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Kosciusko County.
Thirty of those deaths were classified as abuse and 11 as neglect. Of the abuse deaths, 37 percent were children one year or younger. Eighty percent of the abuse deaths were six years and younger, while 100 percent of the neglect deaths were six and under.
More than three-quarters of the abuse perpetrators were men, while more than two-thirds of neglect perpetrators were women. Approximately 63 percent of abuse perpetrators and 64 percent of neglect perpetrators were the natural parents.
There were 174 cases of substantiated child abuse in Kosciusko County alone, and an additional 110 cases of unsubstantiated cases.
In order to remember those children, the Second Annual Candlelight Vigil will be held April 14 at 5:30 p.m. on the Kosciusko County courthouse steps.
The event was first held last year when the Child Abuse Prevention Council "wanted to do a candlelight ceremony like a lot of the other counties do," said Nancy Wilson. "We had a major success with it. ... The candlelight vigil was very beautiful."
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month.
The event will feature the Warsaw Community High School choir and the Warsaw Community Choir. Kosciusko County Department of Family and Children Director Peggy Shively and Kosciusko Community Hospital Chaplain Randy Packer will be guest speakers.
Candles will be lit one-by-one to recognize the dead and abused or neglected children.
"It would be nice if we can get 174 people to hold candles out there. That's my dream," said Wilson.
She said her organization is notifying churches and other organizations about the event. "We're trying to make it a broader opportunity for people to participate."
Regardless of turnout, Wilson said it will be a meaningful event.
To participate, she said people just need to show up. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes. If it rains, the group will move inside the courthouse and use flashlights.
The First Christian Church bell will toll 41 times for the children who have lost their lives in Indiana.
Wilson said, "In this case, I think it's appropriate because people will ask why the bell is tolling, what's going on."
A flyer will be available at the event for people to learn more about volunteer opportunities to prevent child abuse.
The organizers of the vigil include the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Kosciusko County, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Healthy Families, Head Start, Pediatric Healthcare and the Mental Health Association.
If someone is concerned about the welfare of a child, Wilson said they can call 1-800-CHILDREN.
All people in Kosciusko County are encouraged to attend, she said. [[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
Last year, 41 children died in Indiana from abuse or neglect, according to information provided by the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Kosciusko County.
Thirty of those deaths were classified as abuse and 11 as neglect. Of the abuse deaths, 37 percent were children one year or younger. Eighty percent of the abuse deaths were six years and younger, while 100 percent of the neglect deaths were six and under.
More than three-quarters of the abuse perpetrators were men, while more than two-thirds of neglect perpetrators were women. Approximately 63 percent of abuse perpetrators and 64 percent of neglect perpetrators were the natural parents.
There were 174 cases of substantiated child abuse in Kosciusko County alone, and an additional 110 cases of unsubstantiated cases.
In order to remember those children, the Second Annual Candlelight Vigil will be held April 14 at 5:30 p.m. on the Kosciusko County courthouse steps.
The event was first held last year when the Child Abuse Prevention Council "wanted to do a candlelight ceremony like a lot of the other counties do," said Nancy Wilson. "We had a major success with it. ... The candlelight vigil was very beautiful."
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month.
The event will feature the Warsaw Community High School choir and the Warsaw Community Choir. Kosciusko County Department of Family and Children Director Peggy Shively and Kosciusko Community Hospital Chaplain Randy Packer will be guest speakers.
Candles will be lit one-by-one to recognize the dead and abused or neglected children.
"It would be nice if we can get 174 people to hold candles out there. That's my dream," said Wilson.
She said her organization is notifying churches and other organizations about the event. "We're trying to make it a broader opportunity for people to participate."
Regardless of turnout, Wilson said it will be a meaningful event.
To participate, she said people just need to show up. It begins at 5:30 p.m. and will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes. If it rains, the group will move inside the courthouse and use flashlights.
The First Christian Church bell will toll 41 times for the children who have lost their lives in Indiana.
Wilson said, "In this case, I think it's appropriate because people will ask why the bell is tolling, what's going on."
A flyer will be available at the event for people to learn more about volunteer opportunities to prevent child abuse.
The organizers of the vigil include the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Kosciusko County, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Healthy Families, Head Start, Pediatric Healthcare and the Mental Health Association.
If someone is concerned about the welfare of a child, Wilson said they can call 1-800-CHILDREN.
All people in Kosciusko County are encouraged to attend, she said. [[In-content Ad]]