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Mayor Hoy proclaims April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month; Liberty House honors Salem Police
Summary
Mayor Julie Hoy proclaimed April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Liberty House, the Marion and Polk counties children's advocacy center, thanked the Salem Police Department for collaboration after national accreditation reviewers praised the local multidisciplinary team.
Mayor Julie Hoy read a proclamation declaring April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month in Salem and invited representatives from Liberty House, Marion County Health and Human Services, and CASA Marion County to speak about prevention and services.
"Whereas every child deserves to live in a safe, loving, and caring family environment... And now, therefore, I, Julie Hoy, mayor of the city of Salem, do hereby proclaim April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month," the mayor read.
Peter Carrillo, representing Liberty House, described the organization's role as the children's advocacy center for Marion and Polk counties and said Liberty House provides no-cost prevention education and services for children referred for concerns of abuse, neglect and severe trauma. Carrillo noted the long-term effects of unaddressed childhood trauma on mental health and social outcomes.
Allison Kelly, CEO of Liberty House, said the agency had recently met national accreditation standards for the first time in its 26-year history and thanked the Salem Police Department for its collaboration. "In January, following years of hard work for all of us, we were notified that we met those standards for the first time in Liberty House's 26 year history," Kelly said. She added that national site reviewers told Liberty House that the Marion County multidisciplinary team "was among the top 1% of all the 500 site reviews they've done in their careers." Kelly presented a small thank-you gift to Chief Trevor Womack and Sergeant Vince Dawson on behalf of the agency.
A representative from Marion County Health and Human Services outlined county programs that serve children impacted by abuse and neglect, including early assessment and support for first-episode psychosis and a wraparound program for children with complex needs. Dennis Prescott of CASA Marion County described volunteer advocacy for children in foster care.
Liberty House announced free child safety trainings offered in English and Spanish on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout April. Speakers urged community members to take part in prevention education and noted that preventing abuse requires coordinated community action.
The proclamation and remarks were ceremonial and informational; no council vote was required to issue the proclamation.
