Board proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month after Children's Advocacy Center presentation

Kathy Ror, introduced to brief the board on the Children's Advocacy Center, told the Smyth County Board of Supervisors on April 9 that her agency has conducted 495 investigative interviews with children in the county since the partnership began in 2014.

"We are privileged to work with this team," she said, listing local partners including the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, the school system and social services. Ror described blue pinwheels as the national symbol for Child Abuse Prevention Month and invited supervisors to plant a pinwheel garden at the center the following Thursday.

Why it matters: The resolution formalizes local recognition of prevention efforts and highlights the multiagency response the center coordinates for suspected child abuse and exploitation. Presenters emphasized the countywide partnership of law enforcement, courts, schools and victim services in responding to serious allegations.

Board action: A draft proclamation included in the meeting packet was offered for adoption; a supervisor moved, the motion was seconded and the board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Supervisors accepted the pinwheels to display and confirmed the center could leave materials with county staff.

Next steps: The Children's Advocacy Center will host a pinwheel planting and invited county staff and supervisors to attend; the proclamation will be displayed at the center during the month of April.