IN NEED: April is National Child Abuse Prevention month.
We want to share some information about the Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County. In case you aren’t familiar with the heart-wrenching work they do, the CAC works together with law enforcement on cases of child abuse. The center is a child-friendly environment, and is a safe, neutral and supporting setting for children to be interviewed.
Mikele Bay, director of the McKean County center, shared this message: “These children are our neighbors, relatives, students — all deserving of a world free from abuse. Ideally I would love to imagine a world where our services are not needed; however it takes a community to effectuate change.
“We ask you to stand up and be that change. Learn about the signs of child abuse and how to prevent it.”
Another way to help is to fill some wishes for the center. They are in need of items including the following: Books for children and teens; toys for children 0 to 13; journals, notebooks and sketch pads; word search or crossword puzzle books; teen and adult coloring books; child, teen or family-friendly DVDs; new stuffed animals; stress balls; Tangles; scented markers; drawstring or cinch bags; and gas cards in $10 increments from places like Kwik Fill, Sheetz or Country Fair to help families go to the center or to medical or counseling appointments.
The staff at the center do amazing work helping children through a terrifying time.
Last year, the staff provided services to 179 children and families — a 33 percent increase from 2016. Of the interviews conducted at the center, 58 percent involved allegations of sexual abuse; 61 percent of the alleged victims were girls, and 39 percent boys.
And 99 percent of the alleged perpetrators were known to their victims.
Let’s all embrace the theme of this year’s prevention month, “Help Great Childhoods Happen.”
The center is located at 424 W. Main St., Smethport, and can be reached at 887-3354.
As the saying goes, “no man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child.”
