TLC to ‘plant’ awareness about child abuse

CLAREMONT — April is National Prevent Child Abuse Month. Each of us can help make great childhoods happen by helping to prevent child abuse. One way to show awareness by wearing blue on Friday, April 6. Then, stop by TLC Family Resource Center for an open house at 3 p.m. to learn how they agency is helping to prevent child abuse in our community.

In 2014, there were 646 victims of abuse or neglect in New Hampshire, a rate of 2.4 per 1,000 children, according to the Child Welfare League of America. Of these children, they report that 79.1 percent were neglected, 8.7 percent were physically abused, and 15.5 percent were sexually abused. While the numbers are decreasing, there are still far too many children at risk.

You can show your solidarity against child abuse by wearing blue and posting pictures of yourself, your friends, family, and co-workers wearing blue on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #WearBlueDayNH and share why preventing child abuse is important to you.

Then join TLC, 109 Pleasant St., in Claremont at 3 p.m. to “plant” awareness by placing blue pinwheels in the bushes around their building and learn more about how TLC works every day to help prevent child abuse. They will also have blue cupcakes and juice, and one winner will go home with “The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh,” by A. A. Milne.

“By wearing blue and ‘planting’ pinwheels, we’re raising awareness about the need for the prevention of child abuse in a visual away. It gives people a place to start talking about why it is important to them and to the community to do whatever we can to make the lives of children better,” said Executive Director Maggie Monroe-Cassel.

“You don’t have to do big things. Small things like raising awareness, having conversations, donating to agencies doing the prevention work, or having your eyes open to see abuse and report it,” she continued.

TLC works with families every day helping to prevent child abuse.

“Protecting children of all ages from child abuse is important to every member of our staff. We work with families with varying needs for support from pregnant women through families with youth in high school,” said Intake Coordinator René Couitt said. “Our programs and services are always free and have been designed to help reduce the likelihood of abuse.”

 TLC Family Resource Center supports and strengthens all families, children, and youth of Sullivan and Lower Grafton counties with a wide range of free programs, support groups, education, and events. For more information about their programs and services, visit www.tlcfamilyrc.org.