Child Abuse Awareness, Prevention Month Recognized Locally And at Statehouse
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Joe Boals-jboals@timesuniononline.com
Members of the community joined several organizations on the Courthouse lawn Tuesday evening for a candlelight vigil in observance of Child Abuse Awareness Month. Representatives and volunteers from the Department of Child Services, Kosciusko County Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Beaman Home marked the occasion with an invocation by Corrine Hodges from Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church. Opening remarks were made by Ken Locke of the Savation Army and April Slone from the Beaman Home. CASA board president Jill Serbousek led the vigil in a moment of silence followed by a volunteer children chorus singing ‘This Little Light of Mine.’ Those in attendance placed pinwheels on the courthouse lawn to commemorate local children who deal with child abuse. At the State Capital, State Representative Rebecca Kubacki (R-Syracuse) presented a resolution on the Indiana House floor Tuesday honoring the Department of Child Services for its work to protect Hoosier children from abuse and neglect. April has been designated Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in Indiana. “As chair of the Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs, I am honored to present this resolution,” said Kubacki. “Throughout my legislative career, I have put the best interest of Hoosier children at the top of my list, and it is our first priority on the committee to help protect Indiana’s most vulnerable youth. A high quality future for these children depends on them growing up in a safe and stable environment, and we continue to work to ensure that happens,” she continued. The DCS was established in January 2005 by an executive order from Gov. Mitch Daniels, according to a press release from Kubacki’s office. The DCS protects children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. “I have worked a great deal with DCS, and I believe it is the most noble of all of our state departments,” said Kubacki. “It is our responsibility as state leaders to support services that encourage Hoosier families to be successful and to provide a stable foundation for Hoosier children to realize their greatest potential.”
