WATSONVILLE—Teaming up with local leaders, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Cruz County on March 29 proclaimed April as the county’s Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Santa Cruz County supervisor John Leopold, Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada and Watsonville City Councilman Lowell Hurst, along with representatives from the offices of state, assemblymen Robert Rivas and Mark Stone, all gave proclamations to CASA of Santa Cruz County at the organization’s Watsonville headquarters.
Before the ceremony, the headquarters was decorated with pinwheels donated by Bay Federal Credit Union in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every pinwheel is both a reminder of the 400 abused children in foster care every year, and the hope CASA holds for a safe and happy childhood for each child.
“Each of us can play a role in helping our community to better understand child abuse prevention by supporting programs and services that help families and children,” Leopold stated through a press release. “Being a good neighbor; offering to baby-sit; donating used children’s clothing, furniture, and toys for another family; being kind and supportive to new parents; or responding to families in crisis and linking families to needed services and opportunities.”
“Child abuse is unacceptable and preventable,” said CASA of Santa Cruz County Executive Director Lynne Petrovic. “While it is easy to accept the first part of that sentence, to accept that it is preventable provides us with a burden. We have let down our children and we can do better. We have a responsibility to prevent further abuse.”
