Child Abuse Prevention Month kicks off with Blue Ribbon Ceremony

Maura Baker

Staff Writer

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and, for the 21st year, the Family Nurturing Center kicks off the month with their annual Blue Ribbon ceremony at Tom Gill Chevrolet, Florence, April 1.

At the beginning of the event, a proclamation declaring Child Abuse Prevention Month was given by Kentucky Representative Stephanie Dietz on behalf of Representative Kim Banta, who was ill and couldn’t attend the ceremony.

“I know that elected officials from Boone, Campbell and Kenton County, along with various mayors from the regions, have similar proclamations today,” said Representative Dietz, “and as important as the official designations are, the proclamations are more than just words on paper. They are a call to action. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing environment free from abuse and neglect.”

Like in previous years, local students were invited prior to the event to participate in an art contest, this year following the theme “Be the Light, Build a Future.” The winning student’s artwork is printed on the side of TANK buses in Northern Kentucky during the month of April, and a pizza party is won for their class. This year’s winner was Paige Smith, a student of Villa Madonna Academy, Villa Hills, who was presented her award by Mayor Julie Metzger Aubuchon of the City of Florence.

The special guest speaker for the event was Jeff Thomas, the radio host of the WKRQ morning show. Sharing his story as a victim of child sexual abuse, Mr. Thomas expressed his gratitude for the people gathered.

“This is what’s beautiful about today,” he said, “Here, right now, what we’re doing, every person in this room has the power to turn someone’s nightmare into a hopeful outcome. Every person in this room has the power to help end the cycles of abuse in this community and to provide the necessary resources that offer real hope for healing, not just for the victims, but for the families, too.”

In her closing remarks, Family Nurturing Center president Jane Hermes invited individuals to “take the next step.”

“Help create positive childhood experiences for someone today,” she said, “Support parents so they can provide these on an ongoing basis … share what you’ve learned today, spread the message and expand our circle of care … Thank you all for being here today and for your unwavering dedication to building a future where every child grows up safe, supported and empowered.”