Edwards kicks off National Child Abuse Prevention Month with 'Play Day in the Park'

  • Published
  • By Stephen K. Robinson
  • 95 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With an estimated 130 children and parents on-hand at Arnold Park, Col. David Bek, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the 95th Air Base Wing commander, issued a proclamation to Edwards families on April 1 that kicked-off the base's observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

"We are here today as we all have been a child, or are a child. So we can appreciate how important it is to be in, and promote, a loving and supportive environment," Colonel Bek said in his opening remarks.

Also called National Child Abuse Awareness Month by some sources, National Child Abuse Prevention Month was officially recognized in 1974 with the passage of the first Federal child protection legislation and Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.

"Being a child, or looking back on our experiences as a child, we can either reflect on how uplifting and supportive our childhood experiences were, how nurturing and inspiring our parents, extended family, teachers, and mentors were, sadly how damaging and scarring those experiences and times were," Colonel Bek added. "We can all agree that our children are our family's, community's and nation's future, and they deserve a nurturing and safe environment to grow up and contribute to our society."

Today's Child Abuse Prevention Month has its roots in the 1989 Blue Ribbon Campaign to prevent child abuse when a Virginia grandmother's tribute to her grandson who died as a result of abuse. She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her car as a way to remember him and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse. The Blue Ribbon Campaign has since expanded across the country, and many wear blue ribbons each April in memory of those who have died as a result of child abuse.

"The whole purpose of National Child Abuse Prevention Month is to increase public awareness that child abuse does occur, not only in the civilian population, but among military families as well," Capt. Sarah Baker, Family Advocacy Officer, 95th Medical Operations Squadron, said." We would like to educate the public on the effects of child abuse and also helping resources for family's that are struggling before it reached the point of an abusive incident. We have been honoring this month as Child Abuse Prevention Month for at least the last nine years here at Edwards."

Recognizing the alarming rate at which children continued to be abused and neglected and the need for innovative programs to prevent child abuse and assist parents and families affected by maltreatment, Congress made a further commitment to identifying and implementing solutions to child abuse and resolved that June 6 through 12, 1982, should be designated as the first National Child Abuse Prevention Week.

"Too often, children take the brunt of their parents or care provider's anger, in some way," Captain Baker said. "They are just children being children. It is our responsibility, as adults, to take care of them and to raise and teach them right from wrong. When we adults take our anger out on our children, they may suffer physically, but will definitely suffer mentally. Such an injury may or may not be apparent for some time, but it is still there."

Thursday's activities included bouncy castle, bouncy-go-round, face painting, various games, and hot dogs and hamburgers, and shake-your-booty-not-your-baby dance, and various other activities.

"Though today's activities are festive and fun in nature, I hope it's not be forgotten why we are having such an event; to mark the beginning of a month-long awareness period about our children and the blessings they being us," Captain Baker added. "I'm so sad when I have to address child abuse. They are not only small, but defenseless. They depend on their parents for everything to help them survive. Why would any parent hurt the very child they worked nine months to bring into this world? It is very hard for me to understand."

With the national rate of child abuse on the rise, 796,375 cases in 2009, National Child Abuse Prevention Month is all the more a necessity.

"There are so many resources for parents to learn from before their children are born; how to raise them, sources of help for parents after their children are born, and more," Captain Baker said.

Captain Baker can be reached in Family Advocacy, Bldg. 5525, in the Medical Complex or at 277-5292.