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Bakersfield declares April Child Abuse Prevention Month, honors Sikh Heritage Month
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Summary
Mayor Karen K. Goh presented proclamations recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sikh Heritage Month; local advocates urged collective action for child protection and celebrated Sikh contributions to the city.
Mayor Karen K. Goh presented two proclamations on April 8 recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sikh Heritage Month in Bakersfield.
The Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation cited local child-welfare statistics and invited community partners to work with the city to support families. "Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment," Goh said as she presented the proclamation to representatives from the Kern County Network for Children and other service providers. The mayor noted county figures she said show child-abuse and neglect rates higher than state averages and reviewed recent referrals and foster-care counts.
A representative of the Kern County Network for Children, speaking for partner organizations, said the month "isn't just about awareness. It's about action," and thanked the city for continuing partnerships with family resource centers and local advocates. The proclamation text cited that, according to the presentation, Kern County's child-abuse and neglect rate had been described as 62% higher than the state average over the previous five years, and that in February 2026 officials reported 290 families referred for in-person investigations, 2,083 children in foster care, and 65 admissions to Jamieson Children's Center.
The council followed with a second proclamation honoring Sikh Heritage Month. Harvang Gadewal of the Jakara Movement accepted the recognition and described Vaisakhi and the local Sikh community's contributions to agriculture, education and public service in the valley. "Our heartfelt thanks also goes to the entire city council whose partnership continues to make Bakersfield a place where every community feels seen and valued," Gadewal said.
The proclamations were presented to representatives from local organizations, including the Kern County Network for Children, First 5 Kern, Clinica Sierra Vista, Casa of Kern, and the Open Door Network. The city encouraged residents to observe the month by supporting prevention efforts and community events.
The meeting moved on after the presentations; no formal policy vote or funding allocation accompanied the proclamations.
