Schenectady partners launch 'Paint the Town Blue' campaign for Child Abuse Prevention Month

Schenectady County child-protection partners gathered outside the Schenectady County Office Building on April 25 to mark National Child Abuse Prevention Month and launch “Paint the Town Blue,” a public-awareness campaign encouraging businesses and residents to display blue pinwheels, decals or ribbons as a sign of support.

The event, hosted by Susan Casey, director of the Schenectady County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), brought together prosecutors, social-services staff, law-enforcement partners, medical examiners and nonprofit supporters to describe how coordinated services help victims and families. "Every day, we commit ourselves to ensuring that children are protected, supported, and heard," Casey said.

The campaign is organized by the Friends of the Schenectady County CAC. Arnie Rotenberg, president of the Friends board, said the initiative is intended to keep awareness visible year-round and invited the public to a fundraising and awareness night on Friday, April 25, at Frog Alley Brewing Company. "It's a small gesture with a powerful message that's connected—Schenectady stands united for children," Rotenberg said.

John Carson, bureau chief of the Special Victims Unit in the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office, described the prosecutor's office role working with the CAC. He said the special victims unit assigns a small, consistent team of attorneys to handle cases that arise from the CAC so prosecutors can follow matters from initial disclosure through potential prosecution. "We try to have the same attorney involved from disclosure to ultimate prosecution," Carson said, and he thanked county leaders for supporting expanded services and space for the CAC.

Brandy Hillard, commissioner of the Schenectady County Department of Social Services, summarized recent workload and how county agencies coordinate. She said that over the past year "just under 3,000 reports of child abuse and maltreatment were received from the state central registry" and that of those reports "122 were cases of serious physical or [unspecified] abuse," which were handled with the county's multidisciplinary team.

Detective Sergeant Adrian Lanier of the Schenectady Police Department said the department works closely with the CAC and other county partners on prevention and investigation. "We are honored to serve along with our county partners in the prevention and investigation of child abuse," Lanier said.

Medical and victim-support partners attending included Saint Peter's Health Partners Forensic Nurse Examiners Program and Nancy Harris, the CAC SANE nurse manager; Julie Bailey from Northern Rivers' abuse treatment program; and Michelle Kelly, program manager for the CAC program at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. County probation, child-protection caseworkers and CAC clinical staff were also present.

Organizers displayed pinwheel gardens at the county office building and at the CAC site on Bridal Avenue as visible reminders of the campaign. Metroplex and the city of Schenectady planned to light several local landmarks in blue, including the Schenectady Train Station, Key Hall, the bridges on Erie Boulevard and State Street, City Hall and the municipal parking garage, officials said.

The gathering concluded with organizers inviting attendees to meet CAC staff and Friends board members and to continue awareness and prevention efforts beyond April. "By working together, raising awareness and supporting prevention and healing, we send a message that every child matters," Rotenberg said.