Crowd supports Child Abuse Prevention Month
With pinwheels spinning and ribbons blowing in the wind, Mayor Woody Collins Thursday proclaimed April 2021 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Demopolis stating, “prevention remains the best defense for our children and families.”
The event, held at noon in the Public Square, drew a small crowd of supporters of the Black Belt Regional Child Advocacy Center. Greg Griggers, district attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit, said suspected child abuse cases are the most difficult for his office to investigate.
Griggers told the crowd that for years his staff had tried to get a Child Advocacy Center in the circuit. It wasn’t until District Judge Vince Deas took office that the center became a reality.
“I don’t know how he did it,” said Griggers. He persevered “until he made Montgomery understand how much it was needed.” Opened in January 2020, the BBRAC is the last to be set up in the state.
Griggers also thanked Charlotte Webb, the center’s director, who had been “fighting this fight” for a long time.
Judge Deas encouraged supporters to stop referring to the need for child abuse awareness. “Beginning today let’s call it child abuse solutions,” he said.
He added his own accolades, not only for Webb and Griggers but for Kirk Brooker who chose the colors and schemes at the center to create a soothing atmosphere for the suspected young victims of abuse. He also thanked his assistant, Suzanna Naisbett, who “did everything possible to get the center going.”
Mayor Collins in the reading of his Proclamation said, “child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every segment of our community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone.”
The Proclamation continued, “Effective child abuse prevention activities succeed because of partnerships created between child welfare professionals, education, health, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies and families.”
Tommie J. Reese Sr., Law Enforcement Coordinator for the state Attorney General, opened the program with a prayer, and the Rev. Bill Elwell, pastor of First United Methodist Church, closed the ceremony.
The BBRCAC serves children in Marengo, Sumter and Greene counties. Its mission is “to serve victims of child abuse and neglect in order to promote healing and to educate the public to protect our children from abuse.”