Southmountain Sponsors Poster Contest For Prevention To Child Abuse Month
MARION, NC (Mar. 23, 2014) – To recognize and support Prevention to Child Abuse Month, which begins April 1, the McDowell County Child Advocacy Center is holding a poster contest for all fourth graders throughout the county.
The McDowell County Child Advocacy Center is part of Southmountain Child and Family Services’ network of child advocacy centers in Western North Carolina.
The poster contest, themed “There’s No Excuse for Abuse,” is open to any fourth grade child attending any McDowell County Elementary public school, religious school or home school. The deadline is April 15, 2014. Entries must be submitted to the student’s school office and home-school students must submit theirs to the McDowell County Child Advocacy Center, located at 378 South Main St., Marion NC.
One winner will be selected from each school and one from combined home-school students. There will be a Grand Prize Winner selected from all combined winners, all of which will be recognized during Prevention Month.
Posters or drawings must be on sheets of paper sized 11” x 17” or smaller, and poster contest entry forms must be attached to the back of the posters.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families, according to the Website, ChildWelfare.gov. During the month of April and throughout the year, communities are encouraged to share child abuse and neglect prevention awareness strategies and activities and promote prevention across the country. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, we have designed a historical timeline of significant moments in child abuse prevention in the United States
“April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children,” said Rhonda Robbins, Director of of the McDowell County Child Advocacy Center. “Everyone’s participation is critical. Focusing on ways to build and promote the protective factors, in every interaction with children and families, is the best thing our community can do to prevent child maltreatment and promote optimal child development.”
Since 1903 Southmountain Children & Family Services has been providing care for children and families in North Carolina. Headquartered in Morganton, NC, they operate the State’s first and only foster community near Lake James and four Children’s Advocacy Centers and Evidence-based Treatment Centers serving Burke, McDowell, Watauga, Yancy, Mitchell, Avery and Ashe.
