Candlelight Vigil Shines Light on Child Abuse Prevention Month
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Of the 122 children’s cases that were closed, 14 children were adopted; 11 were placed in guardianship; five aged out of the CASA system; 85 were returned to family; and seven were placed with relatives.
During the year, there were 65 CASA volunteers who provided nearly 9,000 hours of advocacy for children, and 820 face-to-face meetings with the children outside of court.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
A Light of Hope Candlelight Vigil was put on by Department of Child Services, CASA and The Beaman Home Thursday night in Warsaw.
Flickers of candlelight could be seen at the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn to reflect on the topic of child abuse.
There were speakers during the candlelight vigil who spoke about the impact child abuse has had on the local community.
The importance of reporting child abuse also was addressed.
Approximately 59 people attended the vigil. People had the opportunity to pray for local agencies who assist children who are victims of child abuse.
Renea Salyer, CASA program manager, said the purpose of the candle vigil was to make people aware that there is child abuse in Kosciusko County.
She said sometimes cases are hidden until something tragic happens.
Ken Locke, Salvation Army, read statistics on child abuse in northeast Indiana.
He said since 2004, there have been 18 cases where children have died as a result of child abuse in northeast Indiana.
In Kosciusko County in 2007, 2-year-old Samantha Muchowicz died from multiple blunt force trauma inflicted by her mother’s boyfriend.
Javon Southall, a 3-year-old, died in 2008 in Allen County from blunt force trauma. He was born in Kosciusko County.
Locke encouraged people to step up and report child abuse.
Erin Shidler, Department of Child Services, said their department is the agency that reacts after child abuse allegations are reported.
“Kosciusko County is not immune from child abuse because the department is providing services to 42 families in Kosciusko County on an ongoing basis,” Shidler said.
Karleen Brennan, Leesburg Elementary School nurse, provided comments on child abuse.
“Children are not to be battered, belittled, insulted, made fun of, or used for all manner of painful abuse,” Brennan said. “Children truly need play dates, not child abuse court dates.”
April Slone, Beaman Home, spoke about domestic violence and said the violence and child abuse go hand in hand.
She said domestic violence hurts children when they try to step in to defend a parent who is being abused.
“Up to 15.5 million children will witness domestic violence this year and violence in a home cannot be kept a secret,” Slone said.
Dan Cox, CASA volunteer and United Pentecostal Church pastor, prayed for the local judicial system and agencies who oversee child abuse cases.
To report child abuse, call the Indiana Child Abuse hotline at 800-800-5556.[[In-content Ad]]
Of the 122 children’s cases that were closed, 14 children were adopted; 11 were placed in guardianship; five aged out of the CASA system; 85 were returned to family; and seven were placed with relatives.
During the year, there were 65 CASA volunteers who provided nearly 9,000 hours of advocacy for children, and 820 face-to-face meetings with the children outside of court.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
A Light of Hope Candlelight Vigil was put on by Department of Child Services, CASA and The Beaman Home Thursday night in Warsaw.
Flickers of candlelight could be seen at the Kosciusko County courthouse lawn to reflect on the topic of child abuse.
There were speakers during the candlelight vigil who spoke about the impact child abuse has had on the local community.
The importance of reporting child abuse also was addressed.
Approximately 59 people attended the vigil. People had the opportunity to pray for local agencies who assist children who are victims of child abuse.
Renea Salyer, CASA program manager, said the purpose of the candle vigil was to make people aware that there is child abuse in Kosciusko County.
She said sometimes cases are hidden until something tragic happens.
Ken Locke, Salvation Army, read statistics on child abuse in northeast Indiana.
He said since 2004, there have been 18 cases where children have died as a result of child abuse in northeast Indiana.
In Kosciusko County in 2007, 2-year-old Samantha Muchowicz died from multiple blunt force trauma inflicted by her mother’s boyfriend.
Javon Southall, a 3-year-old, died in 2008 in Allen County from blunt force trauma. He was born in Kosciusko County.
Locke encouraged people to step up and report child abuse.
Erin Shidler, Department of Child Services, said their department is the agency that reacts after child abuse allegations are reported.
“Kosciusko County is not immune from child abuse because the department is providing services to 42 families in Kosciusko County on an ongoing basis,” Shidler said.
Karleen Brennan, Leesburg Elementary School nurse, provided comments on child abuse.
“Children are not to be battered, belittled, insulted, made fun of, or used for all manner of painful abuse,” Brennan said. “Children truly need play dates, not child abuse court dates.”
April Slone, Beaman Home, spoke about domestic violence and said the violence and child abuse go hand in hand.
She said domestic violence hurts children when they try to step in to defend a parent who is being abused.
“Up to 15.5 million children will witness domestic violence this year and violence in a home cannot be kept a secret,” Slone said.
Dan Cox, CASA volunteer and United Pentecostal Church pastor, prayed for the local judicial system and agencies who oversee child abuse cases.
To report child abuse, call the Indiana Child Abuse hotline at 800-800-5556.[[In-content Ad]]
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