The Cumberland County Community Coalition for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse in conjunction with the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) will participate in the 19 Days of Child Abuse Prevention Campaign Nov. 1-19. The goal of the campaign is to increase commitment, activities and education and to mobilize communities throughout the world around child abuse prevention. The 19 Days Campaign serves as a reminder that there is something every person can do to prevent child abuse.
The following events are scheduled:
1. Community Child Abuse Prevention Breakfast – Thursday, Nov. 9, 8 – 9 a.m., Kiwanis Recreation Center, 352 Devers Street, Fayetteville, NC
Guest speakers Brooke Autry and Kym Nixon. This mother-daughter team share how human trafficking affected their family in hopes of preventing it from happening to others. Tickets for the breakfast are $10 and may be ordered online by Nov. 6 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/child-abuse-prevention-breakfast-tickets-37426288035
2. Resilience documentary film screening – Thursday, Nov. 9, 9:30 a.m., Kiwanis Recreation Center, 352 Devers Street, Fayetteville, NCResearchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. As the new documentary Resilience reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. Resilience also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress. There is no fee to register for the film screening. Registration is at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resilience-documentary-screening-tickets-36724434773
3. Internet Safety: Knowledge for Parents – Thursday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m., Kiwanis Recreation Center, 352 Devers Street, Fayetteville, NC
Natalie Wood Riche, Outreach Specialist, Public Protection Section of the NC Department of Justice, will be the presenter. This program is free but registration is required. Register with the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/internet-safety-knowledge-for-parents-tickets-37430411368.
Throughout the month of November, the Child Advocacy Center will focus on educating approximately 950 preschool children about appropriate and inappropriate touches through story-time events using three books. The books help children learn in a non-threatening way about personal boundaries and appropriate touching and what to do if they feel uncomfortable. According to the national organization Darkness to Light, by the age of 18, one in ten children in the United States will be sexually molested, and approximately 80% of the abuse is never reported. (www.d2l.org) Prevention education is considered an effective way to protect children from abuse.
