April proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month in Jefferson County. BROOKVILLE - Recognizing the need to protect children, the Jefferson County Commissioners have proclaimed April to be Child Abuse Prevention Month in the county. Cass Burkett, executive director and forensic interviewer at the Western PA Cares for Kids advocacy center in Roseville, spoke briefly about child abuse in Jefferson County at last week's meeting of the commissioners. "I am very grateful you don't have to know some of the darkness of my world," Burkett said, noting that 94 children were served at the center last year. Services included forensic interviews and medical evaluations. In the interviews, "a forensic interviewer has a conversation with a child in a way that is developmentally friendly for them," Burkett said. For medical evaluations they are taken to "a very child friendly exam room so they can feel safe. Our goals is to put children at the center of our process so they don't feel like they are being pushed to the side during one of the worst times of their life." She said a goal of the advocacy center is to raise awareness and promote child abuse prevention. "We do that by serving the children. Prevention starts with education - to teachers, community members and children. It is hard to prevent what you don't know about and our goal is to educate children in a child-friendly way." Knowing that "no single agency can meet all the needs of a child, we work with Children and Youth Services, law enforcement, victim services agencies and mental health therapists to provide the best response for children," she said. The advocacy center is nonprofit, "funded entirely by community donations and government grants," she said. "Donations help provide essential resources such as school supplies and backpacks." In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, everyone is encouraged to wear blue on Friday, April 3 and to show support for children by displaying blue pinwheels "that show the joy and whimsy of being a child." Burkett said, "Child abuse prevention is a year-long effort. Bad things exist in the dark, so we want to shine light on it. With our community support we can be a voice for our children and we want to make every month a month of protection." Other business - The commissioners appointed Sarah Gallagher of Brookville to the Jefferson County Planning Commission. Her term will expire Dec. 31. - Approved for payment were invoices in the amount of $807,196.82 and payroll in the amount of $322,237.81. - All county offices will be closed Friday, April 3 in observance of Good Friday. The next regular meeting of the Jefferson County commissioners will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 14 in the conference room at Jefferson Place. More news. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Latest e-edition. Mobile app.

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