FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Silent Children's Garden

Newport News Healthy Families Community Advisory Board Sponsors Events for April Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month

Information concerning Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month Activities for April 2011 in Newport News.

Silent Children’s Garden 

The month of April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. To demonstrate their commitment to improving community awareness of child abuse and neglect, the Newport News Healthy Families Community Advisory Board (HFICAB) is sponsoring a variety of events. Coordinated by the Blue Ribbon Committee, the events will serve to heighten awareness of these issues.

• From April 1 - 15, a Silent Children’s Garden of pinwheels and children’s silhouettes will be on display in Boulevard Park at the corner of J. Clyde Morris and Warwick Boulevard to serve as a visual celebration of children of all cultures. The pinwheels in the Silent Children’s Garden provide symbols of Child Abuse and Prevention Month and show support for the HFICAB in their efforts to serve children and families in need. For information about contributing to the purchase of the pinwheels or to purchase pinwheel lapel/tie pins, contact  757-926-6648. To learn more about the pinwheel project and child abuse prevention in Virginia, please visit www.preventchildabuseva.org.

• April 1st at 7:00 p.m. - A cell phone vigil will be held at the Silent Children’s Garden. The vigil is dedicated to children and families who have been affected by child abuse or neglect. HFICAB members will share short inspirational readings and highlight facts about the effects of violence and neglect on children. Attendees of this event are asked to bring used cell phones, working or not, with their chargers for donation to Transitions Family Violence Services.

• April 15th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – A Back to the 70’s Celebrity Luncheon will be held at the Warwick United Methodist Church, 38 Hoopes Road, Newport News. Sponsored by the Newport News Child Advocacy Team, all proceeds will support local child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention services. Tickets are $17.00 (advance purchase only by April 1st ) and can be purchased through Paypal at www.kidspriorityone.org/professionals . For questions, please contact  757-926-6027.

The Newport News Healthy Families Initiative (NNHFI) is a public agency governed by the City of Newport News that has provided home visitation services to first time parents since 1997. To learn more about NNHFI, please contact Shardell Gerald, Program Director, at 757-926-6480 or visit http://www.nngov.com/human-services/healthy-families.

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