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Crook County proclaims April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month after nonprofit coalition presentation
Summary
County commissioners proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month following a presentation by prevention organizations that highlighted regional statistics and a partnership among local nonprofits.
Representatives from three local prevention organizations asked the Crook County Board of Commissioners on April 2 to declare April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month and described services aimed at preventing maltreatment and supporting families.
Rachel Visser, Prevention Education Manager at Kids Center, told the board that Healthy Families of the High Desert, Kids Center and MountainStar Family Relief Nursery are coordinating prevention work across Central Oregon and that regional data show substantial needs. "With the data book from Oregon DHS in 2023, 532 confirmed cases of abuse and neglect happened within Central Oregon," Visser said, adding that young children are disproportionately affected.
Visser described programs including voluntary home visiting, child advocacy center services, prevention education, and MountainStar's therapeutic classrooms. She urged residents to attend the Communities for Kids events in April — scheduled for Warm Springs, Bend, Madras and Prineville — and to volunteer, advocate and donate to local nonprofits that provide free services.
Following the presentation, the board unanimously approved a proclamation declaring April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month in Crook County. A motion to approve the proclamation passed with recorded affirmative votes from the commissioners.
Why it matters: County officials and service providers said prevention programs reduce the risk of abuse by strengthening families, and local partners are coordinating events and resources across the region.
What happens next: The proclamation was adopted; organizers publicized a series of free Communities for Kids events in April and asked the public to volunteer, donate, or attend to learn about resources.
