Wednesday, April 16, 2003
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Wednesday, April 16, 2003 |
Power Parade next weekBy CAROLYN
CARY
Child Abuse Prevention Month, observed in April for the past 20 years, is recognized by the Fayette Youth Protection Homes as an opportunity to help Fayette County children. A week-long event will take place April 21-25 in Fayette County elementary schools. Social workers and volunteers will visit schools to discuss the problem of abuse. Physical education teachers will organize parades and power walks, with the elementary students canvassing neighborhoods and businesses for donations to help abused children who live in the Friday Home, located in northern Fayette County, and the Johnson Home, in Brooks. Fayette County Probate Judge Martha Stephenson and Department of Family and Children's Services Director Mary Davis visited Peachtree City Elementary School to help kick off this year's Power Parade. Beverly Kiel, a physical education teacher at the school, helped in the effort. "We talk about the problem of abuse and we practice what we will say to folks from whom we ask for donations," Kiel explained. "There have been times when this exercise has brought a child to my attention who has told about their own abuse for the first time." Local businesses donate prizes for the school, classes, and individual children who have the highest participation in fund Raising. Sportime, maker of physical education equipment, always donates a $500 gift certificate for the school with the highest participation, and the Atlanta Braves give four tickets to the individual student who talks to the most people. "It's wonderful to come together in this effort to enlighten the community," said Davis, "and what better place than schools to address an issue that impacts children in such a significant way." For information about Child Abuse Prevention, contact Sharon Herbert, DFACS, 770-460-2555 or Jane Gough, 770-716-8420.
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