Local Group Observes Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Representatives with Franklin County Family Focus Group have been hard at work, making sure those in the community have the resources they need, while observing the month of April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” and “Sexual Assault Awareness Month.” 

The group is currently being led by Jim Davies, Shawna Labeck and Joy Andersen. After June, representatives from local organizations will help lead FFC, including reps from ISU Extension and Outreach Franklin County, La Luz Centro Cultural, Crisis Intervention Services and HDCSD. 

Last Monday morning, members of FFC went to the Franklin County Board of Supervisors meeting at the courthouse, where the supervisors proclaimed the month of April as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Franklin County. Every night this month, the courthouse is lit up with blue and teal lights. 

The Family Focus Group has come up with fun activities for local families and children to do, including delivering coloring sheets and bingo activity cards to local schools and libraries. The completed bingo activity cards can be returned to any of the following agencies by May 2 for a chance to win a gift: Hampton-Dumont Elementary School (North Side and South Side), CAL Community School District, West Fork Elementary School, Franklin County ISU Extension Office and participating local libraries. 

The group is also sponsoring a free movie night at the Windsor Theatre on April 11 at 7 p.m. The “Minecraft” movie will play that night. 

They are doing everything they can to help spread the word, said Velasco, who currently oversees the group’s Facebook page. 

FFC helps with other annual events as well, such as “National Night Out” in the summer and “Share the Warmth” in the fall. Learn more about the group by following them on Facebook at “Franklin County Family Focus.”