Officials bring attention to child abuse

jclark@sunmulti.com

 

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