Children's advocates mark National Child Abuse Prevention Month

EASTON - To commemorate April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, children's advocates from organizations throughout Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester counties recently placed 61 blue ribbons, each representing a child served by the Talbot County Children's Advocacy Center over the past year, on a tree at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton. The annual event is designed to heighten community awareness of 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.

This year's blue ribbons were made by the Benedictine School. Volunteers who helped place ribbons represented the Talbot County Children's Advocacy Center, Talbot County Sheriff's Office, Talbot County Department of Social Services Advisory Board, Easton Police Department, Talbot County State's Attorney's Office, Maryland State Police, Talbot County Department of Social Services, Talbot Community Connections, Kent County Department of Social Services, Kent County Children's Advocacy Center, Evolution Mental Health and Trauma Services, Queen Anne'sCounty Department of Social Services, and UM Shore Regional Health.

The CAC coordinates with local law enforcement and social services to offer comprehensive, multi-disciplinary responses to alleged incidences of child sexual and physical abuse. In partnership with University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, the CAC also provides noninvasive, forensic medical examinations in a secure location for cases in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties. The CAC can be reached at 410-820-7141 or talbot.cac1@maryland.gov. More information is available at www.talbotcac.org.