April 2, 2018 | Press Release
Go Blue Lubbock, a community-wide project to promote child abuse awareness and prevention kicked off Thursday, April 5 at 8:30 AM with more than 100 people in attendance. The kick off, held in the West Texas Room at Atmos Energy, is the first of many events taking place across the South Plains this month.
April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month and child abuse rates in Lubbock County are one of the highest in the state with an average of three children becoming confirmed victims every day. Last year there was one fatality and 1,203 confirmed types of child abuse and neglect recorded by the Department of Family & Protective Services involving more than 1,032 children in Lubbock County. The majority of victims were under the age of three.
Blue ribbons were handed out at the event, which was co-sponsored by the South Plains Coalition for Child Abuse Prevention (SPCCAP), Lubbock Area United Way, and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. A ribbon cutting was provided by the Chamber Ambassadors.
Mayor Dan Pope and Commissioner Bill McKay each presented city and county proclamations officially recognizing April as Child Abuse Awareness Month. Senator Charles Perry and State Representative John Frullo discussed child abuse and prevention efforts in the region.
"Until our society recognizes a child is God's most precious gift, we must remain diligent in their protection through prevention awareness and healing,” said Senator Perry.
A “Cherish the Children” award was presented to the Honorable Judge Kevin C. Hart, a Lubbock County child protection court judge. This award is presented annually by the SPCCAP in recognition of local individuals who go above and beyond in their work and advocacy efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. Previous honorees have included Texas Tech University Chancellor Robert Duncan, State Senator Perry and State Representative Frullo, Lubbock Criminal District Attorney Matt Powell, and Dr. Patti Patterson.
Go Blue Lubbock was started five years ago by SPCCAP with the goal of having people in Lubbock wear blue on the first weekend in April to promote awareness and show support.
Join this effort by wearing blue during April and participating in the many events hosted by SPCCAP and partnering agencies. For more information on these events visit www.liveunitedlubbock.org/GoBlue.
Photos from the event are available here: http://bit.ly/2q2gmMA
MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Ashley Lee
Director of Marketing & Communications
marketing@liveunitedlubbock.org
(806) 747-2711