The Rainbow House is challenging all of Houston County to
wear blue on Mondays this month to help prevent child abuse.
Officials came together Monday morning at Centerville City
Hall to sign a proclamation naming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Those
who signed the proclamation included Centerville Mayor John Harley, Warner
Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen, Perry Mayor Jimmy Faircloth, Houston County
Commissioner Chairman Tommy Stalnaker and Robins Air Force Base Col. Mitchel
Butikofer, Commander of the 78th Air Base Wing.
According to Harley, who read the proclamation, the county
has approximately 37,493 children under the age of 18.
Each official noted the sadness of the need for groups that
are advocates for children in cases of child abuse, but expressed their
gratitude for the groups.
“Every opportunity you have, please be an advocate for
children,” said Linita Berryman, the advocacy program director at the Rainbow
House.
Lt. Darin Meadows with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office
spoke about the exploitation of children. He warned that it is no longer solely
found on the home computer, but on other electronic devices such as cell
phones, iPods and tablets.
Meadows said that the Sheriff’s Office offers a class that
will teach children about the dangers they could possibly face while surfing
the internet.
“We can talk to the kids and try to prevent these types of
things,” he stated.
After the proclamation was signed, pinwheels that represent
children who have been abused were placed in a pinwheel pattern outside of city
hall. They will be moved around the county all month.
Multiple activities in observance of the month are planned
for April. For more information call the Rainbow House Children’s Resource
Center at 478-923-5923.
HHJ News
