Marine Corps Logistics Base ALBANY Ga. -- Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany officials will observe National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month with a proclamation signing ceremony April 5 at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Marine and Family Services, Building 7200.
Military personnel, civilian employees and families are invited to attend. In the event of inclement weather, it will be held at the Base Theater, Building 7400. The ceremony will begin with a fun run by MCLB Albany and Marine Corps Logistics Command Marines. During the observance, guest speaker, Mayor Dorothy Hubbard, City of Albany, will give remarks.
There will be a reading and signing of the proclamation and musical selections by the Child Development Center’s pre-kindergarten classes.
Local law enforcement and other agencies will be invited to attend the ceremony, according to Brenda Ray, health and prevention coordinator, Marine and Family Services, MCLB Albany.
The event kicks off a month here of educational activities to promote child abuse awareness and prevent it. National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month’s theme is “Preventing Child Maltreatment and Promoting Well-Being: A Network for Action.” “The proclamation signing is very important because we have to continue to raise awareness (because) child abuse continues to happen,” Ray said. “As long as we have children (who) are being victimized by the very people (who) are responsible for caring for them, we need to raise awareness to that.
“When we look at society there are so many things going on,” she added. “We have so much digital information, so much technology and now (people) are finding more innovative ways to violate children. We have to raise awareness so that families, communities and military installations are aware of the dangers that are upon us as it relates to our children. We just want to raise awareness of this particular social ill plaguing our communities.”
When Ray outlined the month’s theme, she stressed that communities “have to be a network for action when it comes to our children. We have to develop protective factors for our families.”
To help raise awareness aboard the installation, Ray noted that Marine and Family Services staff will provide informational displays at the Unity/ Multicultural Day, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Covella Pond.
They will also conduct classes for the Child Development Center and provide training for Marines and the Marine Corps Police Department; give away blue ribbons, the symbol for child abuse, at the CDC; and offer information at a table at the Town and Country Restaurant.
Carey Snipes, manager, Exceptional Family Member Program, who will introduce Mayor Hubbard before her remarks, also emphasized the importance of National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.
“A lot of times children (who) are victims of abuse can’t speak for themselves,” he said.
“It’s important to bring recognition during the month of April but also during the rest of the year so the adults (who) can speak for them can remember that they need to watch for the signs and symptoms of child abuse,” Snipes added. “Children who have disabilities, especially when they are very young or when they have trouble communicating, are at more risk of being abused and that’s something we need to remember.”
For more information about the ceremony or anyone who needs information and resources may visit Marine and Family Services, or call 229-639-5252.