Press Release
Contact: Rod Gardner
Publication Specialist
501.622.4513 office 501.622.2077 fax
Or: Nikki Thornton
Director of Community Relations
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Today's Date: March 19, 2007
Senator Lincoln, Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center
combine efforts to host child abuse awareness day
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – More than 25,000 cases of child abuse and neglect were reported in Arkansas last year, and of that total 7,055 were confirmed.
With that in mind, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln and Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center staff members decided to combat the problem by hosting a child abuse awareness day from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26. The one-hour event for area residents will be held outside the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center at 216 McAuley Court (off Higdon Ferry Road and next to the old Garland County Fairgrounds).
“April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month and the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center is honored to have Senator Blanche Lincoln help us kick the observance off early with a child abuse awareness day event,” said Janice McCutcheon, MSW, Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center Director and Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas State Chapter President. “There were 201 confirmed child abuse reports in Garland County alone last year, so in recognition of those children we plan to distribute that many colorful pinwheels for event attendees to place in the ground in front of the Center.
“The pinwheels will then remain on display throughout the month of April.”
The Attorney General’s Office will provide free child identification kits at the event, with Hot Springs Police Department officials organizing and conducting the process and then giving them to parents to keep at home. Abuse and neglect resources and internet protection information will also be given away at the child abuse awareness day. The event’s activities will also include abuse and neglect resources, internet protection information, refreshments and a live remote by KYDL Star 96.7 FM Radio personality Phil O’Brien.
The Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center, Arkansas’ first and only hospital-based facility for child abuse and neglect, was founded by St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center in the spring of 2003 after it was learned the 18th East Judicial District (Garland County) was one of the state’s top three when it came to filings of child maltreatment reports. For further information about services provided by the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center, please call (501) 622-2531.
A member of the Sisters of Mercy Health System, St. Joseph’s is a not-for-profit Catholic hospital and two-time recipient of the large-company Gold Award at the Governor’s Family Friendly Employer Awards ceremony in the spring of 2006 and 2007. For further information on the Arkansas Governor’s Family Friendly Employer awards, as well as services and employment opportunities offered by St. Joseph’s, please visit saintjosephs.com.
