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Brooklyn proclaims April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month; Canopy Child Advocacy Center outlines services
Summary
Councilman Aaron Borowski presented a proclamation recognizing April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and Michael Bachmiller of Canopy Child Advocacy Center described the center's forensic interviews, medical exams and trauma therapy services for Cuyahoga County children.
Brooklyn City Council on March 24 proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and received a presentation from Canopy Child Advocacy Center on services available to children and families in Cuyahoga County.
"On behalf of the members of Brooklyn City Council and with the guidance of the Brooklyn Domestic Relations Commission, we do hereby proclaim April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Brooklyn, Ohio," Councilman Aaron Borowski read during the presentation of the proclamation to Michael Bachmiller of Canopy.
Bachmiller, representing Canopy Child Advocacy Center, described the nonprofit as an independent 501(c)(3) based at 2806 Payne Avenue in Cleveland that opened in November 2018 and serves suspected child abuse and neglect cases throughout Cuyahoga County. He said Canopy provides specialized forensic interviews intended to let children tell their narrative in a child‑friendly, neutral location rather than at police stations, schools or homes. The center also has two sexual assault nurse examiners who provide non‑acute medical exams in abuse cases, family advocates who provide case‑management style support, and trauma therapy intended to connect children with a therapist within 30 days of referral.
Bachmiller provided 2024 service numbers to the council: Canopy served “over 600 children” in 2024, delivered “over 4,000 individual incidents of child advocacy,” performed “over 400 forensic interviews” and conducted “over a hundred medical exams.” He thanked the council for issuing the proclamation and said he brought information cards for residents.
Councilman Borowski credited the police chief for recommending contact with Canopy and thanked Canopy for its work in Brooklyn and the county. The proclamation and presentation were ceremonial; no council action beyond issuing the proclamation was required.
