Stevenson Elementary's display for April Child Abuse Awareness

Stevenson Elementary’s Family Resource Youth Services Coordinator, Carol Kees, stated the blue ribbons are hung, some pinwheels have been set, and April has begun.  She was told in a meeting a few years back that more reports of suspected abuse/neglect were received in April than in any other month, and that this is simply contributed to the awareness events that are held in April.  The SES K-Kids and the SES Academic team will be participating in the annual Child Abuse Awareness Event to be held on the square Wednesday, April 18, at 10:30am.  They will join others who will walk the circle around the square and then down to the historic courthouse, where Mayor, Mark Stratton, and Logan County Judge Executive, Logan Chick, will read declarations proclaiming April as Child Abuse Awareness Month in Russellville and Logan County.  The story of the Blue Ribbon will also be read.  Mrs. Kees encouraged everyone to drive by the historic courthouse, and take time to notice each and every blue ribbon attached to the black iron fence.  Each one represents a report of child abuse/neglect in Logan County during the past year.  Also, notice the blue and silver pinwheels, one for each substantiated case reported during the last year.  One is too many, rows and rows are just plain sad.  To know that Kentucky ranks second in the nation, that's just plain disheartening.  Although there has been a lot of education throughout Kentucky and Indiana to try to reduce the number of children dying from abuse, it’s apparent that we still have plenty more work to do.  Kentucky is a mandatory reporting state, meaning everyone age 18 and older is legally bound to report any suspected abuse/neglect of a child.  Reporting is NOT an option, it is legally required.