National Child Abuse Prevention Month

By Tina Pappas

LITTLE FALLS, N.J. - Mayor James Damiano held a proclamation marking the month of April 2023 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month during the Township Council Workshop Agenda meeting held on April 17. He recognized two representatives from Passaic County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). The non-profit organization advocates for children who are in the child welfare and foster care systems. Communications Director Mike Walshe, and Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Sasha Lowery, MPA, were on-hand for the proclamation.

Damiano cited several statistics, among them that there were approximately 3.9 million reports made to child protective services during the federal fiscal year of 2021. He added that child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every segment of the community and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone.

“Our children are our most valuable resources and will shape the future of our world. Child abuse can have longterm psychological, emotional, and physical effects that have lasting consequences for victims of abuse,” he emphasized. “Protective factors are conditions that reduce or eliminate risk and promote the social, emotional and developmental well-being of children.”

He further added that effective child abuse prevention activities succeed because of the partnerships and coopera- tion created between many entities in the communities such as professionals, education, health, community, faithbased organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies and families. He also emphasized that communities must make every effort to promote programs and activities that create strong, thriving children and families.

“We acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and contribute to promote the social and emotional well-being of children families, in a safe, stable and nurturing environment,” Damiano explained.. “Prevention remains the best defense for our children and families.”

Lowery thanked Damiano and council members for recognizing National Child Abuse Prevention Month and spoke of the work done for children at Passaic County CASA. She added that for the past 15 years they have recruited and trained volunteer advocates to be a voice for children in the child welfare system who don’t necessarily have people to advocate and fight for them.

“That has been our goal. We want to make sure every child in Passaic County that’s in the child welfare system has someone to fight for them,” Lowery said.

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