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County leaders host Child Abuse Prevention Month observance and hear youth testimony
Summary
The board welcomed leaders from Franklin County Children’s Services and the Center for Healthy Families for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, heard youth speakers who cited national and local abuse statistics and promoted April events including a prevention breakfast and a pinwheel display at City Hall.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners opened its April 7, 2026, session by recognizing National Child Abuse Prevention Month and inviting community leaders to outline local prevention work. Tashia Safford, president and CEO of the Center for Healthy Families, and Chip Spinning, executive director of Franklin County Children’s Services, described countywide activities and resources aimed at strengthening families and preventing abuse.
“This really is about how do we create opportunities for all families to be healthy and stable,” Safford said, urging support for child care, stable housing and mental-health services as protective factors.
Youth members of the Center’s Black Girls and Young Women’s Collective and the Franklin County Children’s Services Youth Advisory Board delivered personal testimony about the impact of abuse and encouraged community action. “I’m here because I feel that every child deserves to feel safe and protected in their home,” said Journey Bonner, a junior at Bishop Harley High School. Another youth leader, Yavana, who identified herself as president of the Youth Advisory Board, cited several statistics in her remarks, including that “child abuse affects more than three million children annually and causes death of three children every day,” and described recent local referral patterns to the Franklin County Abuse Hotline.
Presenters invited the public to several April activities to raise awareness: a Child Abuse Prevention breakfast on April 8, a pinwheel planting at Columbus City Hall on April 11, and a week of blue illumination at City Hall and partner sites beginning April 13. The Center encouraged attendees to share images on social media tagged to the Center for Healthy Families and to wear blue on April 8 in support of prevention efforts.
The commissioners thanked the presenters and approved resolutions recognizing the organizations’ work. The board also invited the presenters and youth to a group photograph on the courthouse lawn.
The county’s presenters and youth emphasized prevention measures, community education and collaborative supports for families as the key next steps. For event details and resources, the Center for Healthy Families and Franklin County Children’s Services maintain up-to-date information on their websites and social channels.
