In 1983, Congress declared April to be National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since then, communities across our nation and here in Rutherford and Cannon Counties have taken this opportunity to raise community awareness about child abuse.
"The mission of the Rutherford County Coalition Against Child Abuse is to provide education and promote community services toward prevention, identification and treatment of child abuse," Coalition Chairperson Brittnie Noble said.
The Rutherford County Coalition Against Child Abuse is hosting the Child Abuse Prevention Month Kick-off. The event is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 at the Murfreesboro Police Department located at 1004 North Highland Ave.
The event is open to the public and the community is encouraged to attend and show their support of child abuse victims and the professionals who are dedicated to providing safety, justice, and healing for child victims.
The speakers at the event will be:
• Jennings Jones, District Attorney General for the 16th District
• Christina Moody, Department of Children’s Services.
Every year the Rutherford County Coalition Against Child Abuse presents the General William C. Whitesell Award for outstanding dedication to justice and service to child abuse victims. Each of the nominees has worked tirelessly to respond to child abuse cases.
The 2019 award nominees are:
• Vanessa Hyer, Department of Children’s Services
• Shirley Key, Smyrna Police Department
• Murfreesboro Police Detective Michael Yates
The next monthly meeting will be held April 30 at 9 a.m. at Murfreesboro City School District located at 2552 South Church St.
