Gadsden proclaims April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month; Barry Center thanks city for support

A proclamation signed by Mayor Craig Ford formally named April 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month in Gadsden City, the council announced during its March 31 meeting. The proclamation was attested by city clerk Ivan Nelson.

Patricia Falcon, executive director of the James Barry Center for Children, accepted the recognition and thanked the council for municipal support. Falcon described a countywide “pinwheel” awareness campaign and said the center works closely with law enforcement, the district attorney’s office and the Department of Human Resources to support children and families.

Falcon named local partners and staff, including Sergeant Nick Keenir and Detectives John Ramsay and Alec Burgess in juvenile investigations, along with the center’s forensic interviewer Reagan Lowry and community outreach advocate Robin Phillips. "It takes a community to protect a child," Falcon said, urging continued collaboration among schools, churches, law enforcement and service providers.

During a brief question-and-answer, council members asked about funding and service trends. Falcon and her staff noted the center conducts mandatory-reporting trainings for schools and health programs and said the center serves many children from Gadsden City, citing that a substantial share of their caseload originates in the city. Falcon invited council members to community events tied to the campaign.

The proclamation and remarks concluded with council appreciation for the Barry Center’s work and a commitment to public awareness activities in April.

The council then moved to other business on the agenda, including license approvals and project resolutions.