It’s time to show the children of McKean County that the public is in their corner.
Mikele Bay, director of the McKean County Children’s Advocacy Center, explained the Center, and the McKean County Collaborative Board and CASA (court-appointed special advocates) of McKean County have joined together to ask the public to stand up to child abuse — literally.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, “take a picture of yourself standing against child abuse and send your picture to us. All photos will be uploaded to our Facebook page for a social media blast of McKean County Stands Against Child Abuse,” reads a release from the center.
April is Child Abuse Prevention month, and it’s a perfect time to let children know the public is supporting them.
“It’s something very portable, and people can do it where they are at,” Bay said.
The only requirement for the photo is that people be standing.
“The kiddos can have a visual depiction of their community standing up for them,” she said.
People could hold signs, or something similar, saying they stand against child abuse. There is a hashtag for the event — #mckeanstandsagainstchildabuse
A business might make a sign with its name, saying it stands against child abuse, Bay suggested.
After taking the picture, post it on the Facebook page of one of the organizations behind the event, or use the hashtag to make it visible as part of the countywide effort.
“All photos will be uploaded to our Facebook page for a social media blast of McKean County Stands Against Child Abuse,” reads a release from the Advocacy Center. “The promotion of standing against child abuse is a national event to help raise community awareness.”
Bay explained the event came about from conversation with Bob Esch and Kristen Tim of CASA, saying, “We were asking how can we put a face out there to show kids we are standing up for them?”
Children are very visual, she said. So the organization decided to ask the public to show support by literally standing. And they are asking participants to take photos at 10 a.m. for a specific reason as well — “we want to show them we have a united front.”
Photos will be accepted throughout the day, too.
“We’re really excited about this,” Bay said. “This is a way to get the masses involved without having to ask people to gather somewhere. I think the kids will see our community is involved and cares. I don’t think people really understand how many people from every job, every town, every walk of life are all out there to defend our children.”
Anyone with questions can contact the Advocacy Center or CASA of McKean County.
