Child Abuse Prevention Month (April 2019) kicks off with official City of Flagstaff proclamation

Apr 2, 2019 | CCC&Y Info & Events

Variety of events planned throughout region including walk in Tuba City on April 4, Field of Hope dedication ceremony on April 5 in Flagstaff.

CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie holds the City of Flagstaff proclamation designating April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

Child Abuse Prevention Month kicked off in April with the reading of the official proclamation by the City of Flagstaff at its regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.

Staff and supporters of CCC&Y gather following the Flagstaff City Council meeting.

The proclamation was presented to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie by members of the Flagstaff City Council and Mayor Coral Evans.

Following the presentation, supporters of the Coalition gathered for a group photo.

This is the second official recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors proclaimed April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month during a ceremony held March 26, 2019 at the county’s First Floor Board Room.

Reading the proclamation was Watahomigie. Also in attendance were Coalition board members and supporters.

Members and guests of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth gather for a group photograph with members of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. The event recognization the county’s proclamation of April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The evening presentation followed a morning session where Watahomigie provided supervisors with an update on the Coalition’s trauma initiatives countywide.

In honor of  Child Abuse Prevention Month, a number of upcoming events are planned throughout Coconino County:

April 2 — The Flagstaff City Council will read a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at the Flagstaff City Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff. Send an email to virginia@coconinokids.org for more information.

April 4 A Child Abuse Prevention Walk will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at the Tuba City Fairgrounds. Join us at the Tuba City Fairgrounds and walk for our Children!. The event, in honor of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, is presented by CPLC Parenting Arizona. The first 15 sign-ups will get a free shirt.

April 5 — The Exchange Club of Flagstaff will present its annual Field of Hope Dedication at 5:15 p.m. Friday, April 5 at the Coconino County Courthouse lawn, 200 N. San Francisco St., Flagstaff. Join us in an amazing tribute to the 79 children who died last year in Arizona from child abuse and neglect. From April 3 through 7, a total of 79 flags will be on display at the Coconino County Courthouse lawn in honor of the 79 children. Visit http://www.flagstaffexchangeclub.com/content/field-hope or http://www.flagstaffexchangeclub.com/content/contact-us for more information.

April 6 — The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth Field of Hope Williams ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at the Williams Pocket Park by the “Red Train Car,” next to the zipline at 200 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. A total of 79 Children lost their lives in Arizona last year due to maltreatment.  With this ceremony we honor their lives. We also make a commitment as a community to prevent child abuse together. District 3 Supervisor Matt Ryan and Williams Mayor John Moore will speak. ***The Field of Hope will be up all April- we will move this ceremony indoors at the nearby rec center if the weather is poor. Make sure to wear blue on Friday 4/5/19 to show Williams’ support for Child Abuse Prevention month.  Send an email to virginia@coconinokids.org for more information.

April 10 — CPLC Parenting Arizona will hold its next Child Abuse Prevention meeting on Wednesday, April 10 at the Tuba City Public Library, 78 Main St., Tuba City. “This will be great time to discuss any community events that will be happening in April,” said Ophelia Goatson, program supervisor for CPLA Parenting Arizona. “Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.” The CAP meeting will be held after the monthly Tuba City Networking Meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. Send an email to to ophelia.goatson@parentingaz.org or call 928-773-9133 for more information.

April 18 — Reservations have closed for the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth’s 2019 Child Abuse Prevention Conference and Luncheon from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff. The event features keynote speaker Laura van Dernoot Lipsky of the Trauma Stewardship Institute, the presentation of the 2019 Caring for Children Awards to Elizabeth “Liz” Archuleta, Dani O’Connell, Joe Gutierrez, Shawni Parafiniuk, Jose Soto and Debbie Winlock; and the luncheon keynote discussion by Dr. Pearl Yellowman, executive director of the Navajo Nation Department of Community Development. Visit https://coconinokids.org/2019-annual-child-abuse-prevention-conference/ or send an email to virginia@coconinokids.org for more information.