Child abuse prevention event to be held at Madison County Administration Building

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and, once again, the Third Judicial Circuit Family Violence Prevention Council is partnering with Prevent Child Abuse Illinois will hold a public forum and press conference at the Madison County Administration Building, 157 North Main St. in Edwardsville on Friday, April 1 at 10 a.m. The theme this year is: “Child Abuse Prevention: Everyone Has a Role to Play!”

There will be several speakers, and many agencies will be present at the event with information on resources and support for children and their families in the community who need help.

Judge William Mudge will be present with Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Daiber, Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn, and Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons. Tarra Winters, prevention specialist from Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, will also join the event. Also attending will be Gary Crone, child protection supervisor with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Alan Dunstan, Madison County Board Chairman, will read a proclamation.

The Oasis Women’s Center’s Clothesline Project will also be on display. In this moving display, a clothesline is hung with T-shirts that have been decorated by victims of domestic violence, many of whom are children, and their supporters. The T-shirts vividly represent their own feelings and experiences.

The Madison County Child Advocacy Center will display the numbers of children involved in investigations of abuse and who have been interviewed at the Center last year, with blue and pink paper silhouettes poignantly representing each child. These displays will remain at the Administration Building for the month of April.

For further information, contact Coordinator Tina Culp at (618) 465-1978 or tinaculp@oasiswomenscenter.com. Additional information about Prevent Child Abuse Illinois and Child Abuse Prevention Month can be found on the website at www.preventchildabuseillinois.org.

This story was originally published March 29, 2016 at 5:06 AM with the headline "Child abuse prevention event to be held at Madison County Administration Building."