Break the Chain of Child Abuse

The Break the Chain of Child Abuse Ceremony was held on Friday, Mar. 22, at 9 a.m. at the Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center, 1960 Coliseum Drive in Fayetteville. The event was sponsored by various community agencies, programs, and schools with the purpose of raising awareness around the issue of child abuse and to draw attention to April as Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.

More than 500 children from local schools, along with elected officials and other dignitaries attended. Each school was asked to create a 10-foot paper chain using colorful construction paper and to send it with four representatives (one adult and three students) to the ceremony.

Program highlights were are as follows: The Honorable Edward A. Pone presented a Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation for the month of April. Rosie Ryan, the Executive Director for Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina, gave the keynote address. The 2012 Champion for Children award winners were recognized. Finally, the paper chains were broken in unison by all of the attendees to represent our dedication as a community to preventing child abuse.

The Break the Chain Committee includes the following agencies: Army Community Services, Building Blocks, Child Advocacy Center, Cumberland County Department of Social Services, Cumberland County Teen Court, Cumberland County Guardian ad Litem, Cumberland County Family Court, Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville Urban Ministry, Fort Bragg Family Advocacy Program, Fort Bragg Schools, Head Start, and Partnership for Children of Cumberland County.