Talbot Children’s Advocacy Center marks Child Abuse Prevention Month with events & programs

Photo: From left, are: Kathryn McAllister, Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services Supervisor, Kent County Department of Social Services; Rachel Boyle, Coordinator of the Kent County Child Advocacy Center; Linda Webb, Talbot County Department of Social Services Director; Shari Blades, Assistant Director for Adult Services and Child Welfare, Talbot County Department of Social Services; Lauren Krasko, Coordinator of the Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center; Rebecca Jester, Coordinator of the Queen Anne County Children’s Advocacy Center; and Delegate Steve Arentz, Chairman the Eastern Shore Delegation; catch up after the group received a proclamation acknowledging National Child Abuse Prevention Month. — From left, are: Kathryn McAllister, Child Welfare and Adult Protective Services Supervisor, Kent County Department of Social Services; Rachel Boyle, Coordinator of the Kent County Child Advocacy Center; Linda Webb, Talbot County Department of Social Services Director; Shari Blades, Assistant Director for Adult Services and Child Welfare, Talbot County Department of Social Services; Lauren Krasko, Coordinator of the Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center; Rebecca Jester, Coordinator of the Queen Anne County Children’s Advocacy Center; and Delegate Steve Arentz, Chairman the Eastern Shore Delegation; catch up after the group received a proclamation acknowledging National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

EASTON, MD – We’ve all heard the cliché “It takes a village to raise a child,” but have we ever considered what that means in the context of child abuse and neglect? April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time set aside to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together not only to prevent child abuse and neglect, but also to promote the social and emotional health of children and families.

Regionally, the Talbot County Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and the Talbot County Department of Social Services have been hosting events and activities to highlight the tools and resources available to families. To kick off the month, administration, staff members and partners met with the Eastern Shore Delegation in Annapolis, who presented the group with a proclamation recognizing National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Photo: Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center and its partners tied 76 blue ribbons on a tree during a special ribbon-hanging event on a tree at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each ribbon acknowledges a child served by the CAC during the past year. — Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center and its partners tied 76 blue ribbons on a tree during a special ribbon-hanging event on a tree at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each ribbon acknowledges a child served by the CAC during the past year.

The CAC recently hosted a ribbon-hanging event and open house. During the event, CAC partners tied 76 ribbons on a tree on the grounds of the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center, 219 S. Washington St., Easton, where the CAC is housed. Each ribbon acknowledged a child served by the CAC during the past year.

“Our goal is to leverage events as a way to engage and start a conversation about how we all can contribute to creating nurturing communities for children and families,” says Linda Webb, Talbot County Department of Social Services Director. “Learning resilience is one tangible tool for all of us. We look forward to sharing this key message during our upcoming free film screenings and discussions,” she adds.

The event called “A Night of Hope,” is hosted by the CAC and the Talbot County Department of Social Services, and will take place on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at the Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street in Easton. At the event, the film Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope will be shown at two screenings, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. After each screening the film’s director James Redford will lead a discussion. The event is free. Reservations are recommended. Walk-ins are welcome.

A Night of Hope is supported by the following partners: Talbot County Public Schools, Talbot County Health Department, CASA of the Mid-Shore, For All Seasons, Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Talbot County Department of Emergency Services, Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and Talbot Partnership. To RSVP, visit bit.ly/2XUXmie. For more information, call (410) 770-5369 or email Cheryl.younker@maryland.gov. For more information on the film, visit https://kpjrfilms.co/resilience/

Also during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Doc’s Sunset Grille, 104 W. Pier Street, Oxford, is hosting a “dine and donate” opportunity. Every Thursday throughout April the restaurant is donating 15 percent of all sales to the Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center and Talbot Community Connections, a nonprofit arm of the Talbot County Department of Social Services.

Founded in 2003, the Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary responses to alleged incidences of child sexual and physical abuse. Housed at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton, the CAC works in partnership with law enforcement agencies, the state’s attorney’s office, medical professionals and child advocates so that mid-shore children and families impacted by sexual or physical abuse can heal.
For local resources for children and families visit http://dhs.maryland.gov/local-offices/talbot-county/ and connect on facebook.com/TalbotDSS/. For more information, visit talbotcac.org, call (410) 820-7141 or email or talbot.cac1@maryland.gov. To learn more about Talbot Community Connections or to make a donation, visit talbotcommunityconnections.org.

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~ Children’s Advocacy Center