Children & Youth Services Honor Caseworkers for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

At the April 6 Commissioners Meeting, resolution No 22-10 was passed, declaring April 2022 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Pike County. 

Staff members of Pike County Children and Youth Services (C&Y) were in attendance to inform the public of some new protective and supportive services offered to families and to share how its office is honoring National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

C&Y staff promote the importance of communities working together to prevent child abuse. Pike County Children and Youth Services Director, Michele Burrell, provided a list of things you can do as a community member to help prevent child abuse.

Community

  • Be a volunteer for families in your community
  • Increase awareness by being informed and informing friends and families
  • Know what child abuse is
  • Report all suspected child abuse

Parents

  • Be aware of the supports you have and reach out to them in times of need
  • If discipline is needed do so thoughtfully
  • Examine your behavior
  • Contact your local Children and Youth agency
  • Contact Victims Intervention Program (VIP) for additional assistance

 

Penny Seltzer, C&Y’s Family Finding Unit Supervisor, spoke of some of the new preventative measures and conferences C&Y has been facilitating. She stated, “with the Family First Initiative, the agency is trying to institute more family meetings to engage the families and to help bring services in and strengthen the natural support that families have. By offering a variety of meeting topics through its Family Finding Unit including family group decision making meetings, blended perspectives meetings, prevention plan meetings and concurrent family meetings, C&Y is able to determine which type of meeting would best suit the needs of families to strengthen families.”

 

Honoring County Caseworkers

On April 22, 2022, in honor of April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Pike County Children & Youth Services Director, Michele Burrell, and SAM Program Director, Sasha Jackson, organized a celebration to honor and recognize County Caseworkers for their hard work and dedication to ensuring the safety of the children of Pike County. Each staff member was awarded a personalized certificate detailing reasons why they are a great caseworker.

The agency’s theme for this month is “Stronger Together When We Work Together.” C&Y staff created a family tree and decorated the office with blue ribbons.