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Rally kicks off Child Abuse Prevention Month

March 28, 2016

Family & Children’s Place, Face It® Movement invite public to help create safe community for children

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 28, 2016) – Family & Children’s Place, The Face It® Movement, Kosair Charities and other area children’s service agencies will kick off April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, with a Rally to End Child Abuse, and speakers discussing progress being made in the Greater Louisville area to stop and prevent abuse and heal child survivors and families.

The rally, at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 30, takes place on the lawn of the Big Four Bridge in downtown Louisville. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and First Lady Glenna Bevin, along with Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, committed to participate.

“We believe that children – all children – have a right to safe childhood, free of violence, so April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, is an important time to start a conversation in our community about how we can keep our children safe,” said Pam Darnall, president and CEO of Family & Children’s Place.

“It begins with this rally, but we must rally neighbors, businesses, schools, governments, friends and families to make a difference in the lives of children here. By promoting safety and awareness, we can prevent abuse from happening in the first place and keep our children safe,” said Darnall.

That begins with joining the rally to learn about the incidence, signs and symptoms of abuse and how everyone can help.

In addition to Gov. and Mrs. Bevin and Atty. Gen. Zoeller, speakers include Darnall, Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates; Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad, Kosair Charities board chair Jerry Ward and Dr. Melissa Currie, associate professor and director of the Kosair Charities Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine

Students from Holy Trinity Parish School who have been involved in the Archdiocese Speak Up, Be Safe curriculum, also will attend to encourage people to be vigilant, to help prevent violence, abuse and neglect and lead a cheer to start the walk across the bridge and back.

Face It is a Kosair Charities 10-year initiative to eradicate child abuse and neglect by 2023. Along with Family & Children’s Place, partners include Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana, Center for Women and Families, Exploited Children’s Help Organization, Department for Community Based Services and others.

“Family & Children’s Place is but one of the agencies in Louisville and Southern Indiana providing critical protection and critical solutions – we give children the chance to succeed, thrive and flourish despite their painful pasts,” said Darnall.

“We cannot do this alone. Together, we can and must create safe communities for our children.”

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About Family & Children’s Place
Family & Children’s Place protects Kentuckiana children, families and communities from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and helps move them from hurting to healing.  We serve nearly 5,000 children and families annually through trauma-informed and impact-evident services.  For more information about Family and Children’s Place, visit www.famchildplace.org or call 502-893-3900.