Mount Airy proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month; Child Advocacy Center reports increased caseload

On April 7 the Mount Airy Town Council issued a proclamation designating April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and invited representatives from the Child Advocacy Center of Frederick County to describe local services and trends.

Jenna Moosman, representing the Child Advocacy Center of Frederick County, described the Center's role coordinating forensic interviews, medical exams, trauma-focused therapy and advocacy in partnership with Child Protective Services, law enforcement, the state's attorney's office and Frederick Health Hospital. Moosman said the Center served 366 children in 2024, a 15% increase from 2023, and that six of those children were from Mount Airy. The 2024 service numbers Moosman cited included 319 forensic interviews, more than 1,400 advocacy encounters, over 750 hours of trauma-focused therapy, 30 non-acute medical exams, 86 trauma screenings and 234 ACEs screenings.

A county division director who identified herself as Kelly (division director for the department housing the Child Advocacy Center) told council members the Center is shifting toward more primary-prevention activities—education and outreach—rather than focusing solely on reactive responses after maltreatment has been reported.

Mayor Hoshower read the town proclamation and called on residents, agencies, schools and businesses to support the Child Advocacy Center. Council members presented the proclamation to Center staff and to representatives of the friends/fundraising arm who support ongoing programs and activities.

What’s next: The town and local nonprofit partners will continue outreach during April to raise awareness; the Child Advocacy Center said it plans additional prevention-focused programming.