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Hundreds of children, families to plant pinwheels at Thursday event; U.S. Sen. Stabenow, MDHHS Director Gordon attend child abuse prevention rally
April 24, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2019
CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112
WHAT: The Children’s Trust Fund within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is sponsoring its 11th annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day Rally. The rally’s theme, “The Power of One,” encourages Michigan residents to become involved by doing one small or large act to protect children from abuse and neglect. The rally will culminate in the planting of hundreds of pinwheels near the State Capitol. The pinwheel is the national symbol of child abuse and neglect prevention. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed April Child Abuse Prevention Month. Last year, 37,738 children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect in Michigan.
Later the Children’s Trust Fund and Michigan’s Children will cohost a citizen review panel discussion at United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing. Lawmakers, organizations and individuals will explore issues related to the opioid crisis and child maltreatment prevention programming as one strategy for addressing the crisis.
WHO: Rally speakers include U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, state representatives Mary Whiteford and Joe Tate, MDHHS Director Robert Gordon, Children’s Trust Fund Board Chairman Randy Richardville, Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Superintendent John Severson, and Estrella Torrez, associate professor in the Residential College of Arts and Humanities at Michigan State University. In 1982, then state Rep. Stabenow co-authored legislation creating Michigan’s Children’s Trust Fund to prevent child abuse, one of the first in the nation.
Entertainment will be provided by Detroit pastor and gospel singer Charles Laster, the Lansing Community College Choir, Dwight Rich School for the Arts Middle School Choir and Native American drumming and singing led by Elder Don Lyons of the Ojibwa Tribe
WHEN: Rally: Thursday, April 25, at 11 a.m. Panel discussion: April 25, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Rally: State Capitol Building, East Steps, Lansing. Panel discussion: United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing
For more information, visit https://www.michigan.gov/ctf and the https://www.facebook.com/MichiganCTF/events pages.
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