Fayette proclaims April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month; advocacy center outlines services

Dawn Madden, executive director of the West Alabama Child Advocacy Center, told the council the nonprofit provides a child-friendly site for forensic interviews, coordinated multidisciplinary support and free counseling for children and caregivers across three counties. "We are an agency that serves children who have been abused and neglected," Madden said, summarizing the centermodel that records interviews so children do not have to retell traumatic events to multiple agencies.

Madden said the centeroffice is located on the Fayette Elementary School property and that the organization serves Fayette, Lamar and Pickens counties with offices in Fayette and two other towns. She asked the council to help raise awareness and to support prevention efforts, including education and mental-health services.

Mayor Rod Northam presented and signed a proclamation declaring April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month in the city of Fayette, urging citizens, agencies, faith groups and businesses to support child-safety initiatives. "Now, therefore, I, Mayor Rod Northam of the city of Fayette, do hereby proclaim April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month in the city of Fayette," the proclamation states; the mayor gave a copy of the proclamation to Madden for the center.

Council members thanked Madden, noted a successful ribbon-cutting at the center and said they would support outreach to increase community awareness of the center's services.