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Marion proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month after Children's Advocacy Center presentation
Summary
Kathy Roark of the Children's Advocacy Center outlined services for child victims and presented a resolution; the Marion Town Council unanimously adopted a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Kathy Roark, director of the Children's Advocacy Center of Highlands Community Services, told the Marion Town Council on April 6 that her office provides investigative interviews, play therapy for young children and a certified facility dog named McFly to comfort children during interviews and court appearances. "Our facility dog McFly is allowed to sit at a child's feet in the witness box," Roark said, describing how the center supports investigators, the commonwealth's attorney and families.
Roark said the center has served Marion and Smyth County since 2014 and highlighted the need for a coordinated community safety net. She offered a sample proclamation proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and asked the council to adopt it.
Council members moved and seconded the resolution and adopted it unanimously. The proclamation cited that more than 6,200 children in the Commonwealth of Virginia were determined to be abused or neglected in FY25 and urged residents and partner agencies to work together to reduce child abuse and neglect.
The proclamation will be added to the town's records and the council encouraged continued partnership with the Children's Advocacy Center to expand services and community outreach.
