Local Mayors Proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

On April 22, 2021, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a Proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Monona County mayors from the cities of Whiting, Ute, Soldier, Rodney, and Onawa joined with the Monona County Child Abuse Prevention Council to recognize the importance of protecting children and families. Mayor Tom Marr (City of Whiting), Mayor Richard Hagemann (City of Ute), Mayor John Larson (City of Soldier), Mayor Shawn Hamann (City of Rodney), and Mayor Lonnie Campbell (City of Onawa) also signed Proclamations recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The proclamations acknowledged that more than 1,540 children die each year from child abuse.  It stated that both locally and nationally, child abuse is considered to be one of the most serious public health problems with links to a wide range of medical, emotional, psychological, and behavioral disorders.  By promoting family functioning and resiliency, social support systems, concrete supports, nurturing and attachment as well as having knowledge of parenting and child development, can help to prevent child maltreatment and strengthen families.  The proclamation acknowledged community responsibility and encouraged all their citizens, community agencies, religious organizations, medical facilities, and businesses to partner in the efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect, thereby strengthening the communities in which we live.

For more information or to become involved with the Monona County Child Abuse Prevention Council please call 712-423-9253.  If you or a friend would like to learn how to participate in educational early childhood home visits that will help your child’s growth and development, please contact Sara Keenan or Debie Lahr with Burgess Health Center’s Learning for Life Program, at 712-420-0054.  The Learning for Life Program is a free home visiting program for families with children prenatal through kindergarten entry. The Learning for Life Program is funded by grants from the Harrison, Monona, and Shelby Early Childhood Iowa Board and the Harrison, Monona, and Shelby Decategorization Board and ICAPP grant funding.