Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Council of Bartholomew County, Columbus, Indiana

April '08: Child Abuse
Prevention Awareness Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. Although our programs are busy year round, during April, CAP Council and other child-serving programs make efforts to sponsor a variety of special events and displays in the community. Please help us to let parents and children here know they are supported by a community that cares.

This year, our theme will be: "Cherish The Children..." Download more information on the theme here

Light of Hope family event at Freedom Field behind Parkside Elementary School, Columbus, Indiana

• Friday, April 18th - 7:00 to 8:30 PM
• Refreshments » Parkside Children’s Choir
• Guest Speakers » Information Booths
• Balloons » Magic Show » Candlelight Vigil » "Glow-in-the-Dark" Pinwheels

Training Workshops

• Sponsored by CAP Council in conjunction with the Columbus Center for Learning and the Bartholomew Co. Dept. of Child Services
• "Six Core Strengths for Healthy Child Development" video training series by Bruce Perry, M.D., Ph. D., with accompanying handout materials
  • "Attachment", "Self-Regulation", "Affiliation", "Attunement", "Tolerance" and "Respect" - Each of these strengths builds on the others and each is critical if we want our children to survive in an increasingly complex world. However, these strengths must be learned; we are not born with them. Learning to help instill these strengths in children can give them the tools needed for a productive life and healthy relationships with people of all kinds.
  • Trainees will learn to define and identify core strengths in children, learn to recognize red flags which indicate a particular strength is not present, and learn how to assist both child and parent in developing those strengths.
  • Each session will include a video training component by Bruce Perry, MD, PhD. from the Child Trauma Academy and a PowerPoint presentation & discussion with a variety of presenters including: Mary McKinney, clinical supervisor with Family Services; Susan Shanklin, Quinco Solution's child psychologist; Ann Blaisdell Smith, clinical social worker & director of Child Abuse Prevention Council of Bartholomew County; and Brenda Ragle, childhood development educator with Ivy Tech Community College.
  • This entire series is the result of the work of Dr. Bruce Perry who has done extensive research on child development and, particularly, the result of maltreatment and neglect on the child's developing brain.
  • Appropriate for Early Childhood and K-6 EDUCATORS and Administrators, Child Care Providers, Psychologists, Social Workers, Child Advocates, Family Case Managers, Parents, Grandparents & Foster Parents.
  • Dr. Perry is an international expert in the field of child brain development and has presented to courts, physicians, mental health workers, child advocates and other numerous audiences world-wide.Additional presenters will include: Mary McKinney, LCSW/LMFT; Susan Shanklin, Ph.D., Ann Blaisdell Smith, LCSW and Brenda Ragle, MBA
• Six sessions will be held from 6:30-8:00PM in the Summerville Room at the Columbus Center for Learning, 4500 Central Avenue, Columbus, IN Topics are:
  • April 17th - Attachment
  • April 24th - Self-Regulation
  • May 1st - Attunement
  • May 8th - Affiliation
  • May 15th - Tolerance &
  • May 22nd - Respect
• 5 CRU credits for educators and 9 CEU credits for foster parents are approved for the entire series. CEU credits for other disciplines are pending. Check with your individual profession. Cost $10.00 per session or $50.00 for all six sessions with pre-registration. $15.00 per session with registration at the door.

Table Tents and Presentation

• Sponsored by CAP Council in collaboration with the Greater Columbus Safety Council (GCSC)
• 1000 Table tents will be designed and printed in March
• Presentation (PowerPoint) will be given to the GCSC at their monthly meeting on April 5th (Noon at Columbus City Hall Meeting Room - 123 Washington St.)
• 1000 table tents will be distributed to GCSC members to place on tables in lunchrooms and break-rooms of factories and businesses throughout the area to leave up for the entire month of April. (anticipated audience is 15,000-20,000)

Displays

• Commons Mall Bubble Window - A collaborative project between CAP Council & Caring Parents @ 4th Street - Coumbus, IN April 1 - April 31st (tentative)
• Library window display - Poster &/ or children's Artwork - April 3rd, 2004
• Post Office Window Displays - April 4 - April 30

Radio Spots

• Two early morning radio spots on Whiteriver Broadcasting station in April. (I'll have to check the dates)

$1 Donation Cards at Home Federal Banks during April

• Sponsored by CAP Council & Home Federal Savings Bank - Bartholomew County (free lifesaver packages and accepting $1 donations)

CAP Participation in Community Event - "Festival of the Young Child"

• Sponsored by Childhood Connections
• Place: Donner Center in Columbus
• Saturday, April 28, 2007 from 10:00am - Noon.

CAP Participation in Community Event - "Get on Board"

• Sponsored by Volunteer Action Center
• Place: Commons Mall - Washington St. Columbus, IN
• Tuesday, April 17th from 4:30-6:30pm

Kids on the Block

• Sponsored by CAP Council in partnership with Bartholomew County School Corp.
• Puppet performances for children about child abuse & neglect, sexual abuse, personal safety
• Lincoln Elementary - Friday, April 13. 8:20-9:20am - 2nd/3rd grade mix; 9:20-10:20am - 3rd grade; 10:35-11:35am - 4th grade.
• Lincoln Elementary - Monday, April 16. 9:45-10:45am - Kindergarten; 12:25-1:25pm - 2nd grade; 1:30-2:30pm 1st grade.
• Download April 2007 schedule here.