The Plumas County Board of Supervisors issued a proclamation April 1 declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month in the county. This is in line with the U.S. Congress recognition of April as national Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. “Wearing the color blue, wearing a blue ribbon or displaying a pinwheel in April will serve as a positive reminder that together, we can prevent child abuse and keep children safe,” reads the proclamation.
In their proclamation, the supervisors pointed out that child abuse and neglect are serious social problems that affect many families in Plumas County. “All adults and caregivers have a responsibility, as neighbors, community members and citizens of Plumas County, to help create healthy, safe and nurturing environments for all children and youth,” reads the proclamation. The board declared its commitment to promote policies and practices that support communitywide efforts to strengthen families and reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect in Plumas County.
Preventing child abuse and neglect includes helping families to build strengths so that children can succeed and thrive, said the supervisors, and success in preventing child abuse in Plumas County depends on strong collaborative partnerships among human services agencies, child protective services, community-based organizations, schools, law enforcement and the faith and business communities.
The Plumas County Child Abuse Prevention Council has provided a collaborative forum since 1992 for the planning and implementation of child abuse prevention programs. The supervisors acknowledged the work done by the council, county social workers and many other agencies and individuals in the county to protect children, strengthen families and eliminate the social factors that contribute to family dysfunction and child abuse and neglect.
