By Deseray McKinzy
The Children’s Advocacy Center partnered with organizations such as CASA (Voices for Children), Bikers Against Child Abuse and many more to host a Child Abuse Awareness Program on Friday morning, to spread awareness about child abuse in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.
The speakers at the event featured various individuals from the center, Mayor Shirley Washington, the Arkansas State Police Crimes against Child Abuse division, Watson Chapel School District Superintendent Jerry Guess, and the Jefferson County Sheriffs’ office. The executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center, Hazel Maxey explained the purpose of the event,
Maxey also explained the ultimate goal of the center and how they contribute to preventing child abuse,
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Voices for Children, supported the advocacy center with a display to share more information on their role in child abuse prevention. The Executive Director Sherri Neikirk explained the organization,
According to the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division, in the United States, a child is raped every two minutes, 1 out of every 3 girls are molested before the age of 18, 1 out of every 6 boys are molested before 18, and 7 children die each day due to child abuse.
To report suspected child abuse or neglect contact 1-844-save a child.
