HARRISBURG, Pa. — April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and advocates were raising awareness on Tuesday at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance honored four women – including two from the Susquehanna Valley – who went above and beyond to protect children.

These women are known as Blue Ribbon Champions.

“Whether it’s law enforcement, whether it’s in pre-K, whether it’s in the school system, whether it’s a mental health counselor, people do lots of things that sometimes they’re just unsung heroes who go without mention. So, we try to correct that on days like today,” said Angela Liddle, president and CEO PFSA.

Nancy Reitzel, Crystal Long, Kimberly Saltsman, and Lisa Wilcox received the award.

Long is a forensic interviewer and the only child abuse educator in Adams County.

Reitzel works with teens in Cumberland County on how to care for the safety and well-being of toddlers and preschoolers.

“I work with high school students who are going to be teachers and daycare workers, and they are the front line then. So, they need to know how to work with kids and what to look for and how to protect children,” Reitzel said.

Also at the Capitol, 4,992 blue flags were placed outside. They symbolize the number of child abuse cases in the commonwealth in 2022. There are also 60 black flags, marking the number of child abuse deaths.

To learn about the signs of child abuse, neglect and trafficking, go to pafsa.org.

From WGAL, April 2, 2024