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Thanks to everyone who attended Wednesday morning’s Family & Children’s Place second annual Southern Indiana Building Brighter Futures Breakfast at The Grand Theater in downtown New Albany. And thanks for helping us help children and families overcome trauma from violence, abuse and neglect.

Nearly 200 guests enjoyed a hot breakfast and learned about Family & Children’s Place and progress being made in the battle to end child abuse from Pam Darnall, agency president and CEO; Indiana Atty. Gen. Greg Zoeller; WLKY-TV meteorologist John Belski,; Floyd County, Ind., Prosecutor Keith Henderson; and agency supporters Shannon and Nick McRae. Guests also enjoyed a new video about the agency’s program areas and achievements.

Zoeller offered thanks and praise from state government in Indianapolis on progress being made to curb and end child abuse, and for the collaborative work being down between prosecutors, police and agencies such as Family & Children’s Place.

Henderson, a former Indiana State trooper, shared information about the challenges of investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases, and how creation of child advocacy centers (CACs) in Floyd and Clark counties has really helped improve the process and create better outcomes for child victims of sexual and their families. The CACs bring together forensic interviewers, therapists, family advocates, the Department of Child Services, forensic pediatricians, law enforcement and prosecutors to make the process more compassionate, to help children feel safe and to facilitate information gathering.

“The CACs are a powerful tool for those of us who investigate and prosecute child abuse and violence,” said Henderson. “It’s much better today than even a few years ago. It’s a great partnership we have with Family & Children’s Place and it’s making a difference for children and the community.”

Belski shared new of upcoming events, including a Rally to End Child Abuse, March 30, at 11, at the lawn of the Big Four Bridge to kick off April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. He also shared info about an April 16, 5K run/walk at Seneca Park Loop to Stomp the silence: Taking steps toward healing, about the April 20 Building Brighter Futures Breakfast at the Seelbach Hilton in downtown Louisville and about teams the agencies is recruiting to Run for a Reason – to help children and families – during the Kentucky Derby Festival marathon and mini-marathon.

Also mentioned was the annual Drive Out Child Abuse Golf Scramble in June at Persimmon Ridge Golf Club.

The McRaes, friends and supporters of the agency, as well as new parents, shared their commitment to the agency and encourage everyone at the breakfast to get involved with and to help the agency protect and heal children and families from abuse.

Thanks to everyone for helping Build Brighter Futures for children and families in Southern Indiana.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast crowd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family & Children’s Place President and CEO Pam Darnall

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Belski

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Indiana law enforcement officers attended the breakfast, joined by Indiana Atty. Gen. Greg Zoeller