PA GOES BLUE FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IN APRIL

(Harrisburg, PA) – PA GOES BLUE TO HIGHLIGHT CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IN APRIL

March 20, 2018

PA GOES BLUE TO HIGHLIGHT CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IN APRIL

Wolf Administration joins PA Family Support Alliance for #WearBlueDay on April 4

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA), the state leader in child protection, will embark on a statewide public messaging campaign in April to bring attention to National Child Abuse Prevention Month. PFSA and its sponsors, PSECU, LAMAR Advertising and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Pennsylvania, will showcase 134 billboards across the state featuring the message, “Learn How to #ProtectPAKids.” PFSA offers a suite of bilingual training programs, including free, in-person Mandated Reporter Training, in how to recognize and report suspected child abuse.

In addition to the billboards, the PA Turnpike Commission will feature PFSA messaging in digital ads on ATM kiosks and Travel Boards at its 17 Service Plazas across the state.

PFSA will present the 2018 PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids Awards Ceremony on April 4, 11 a.m. at the Capitol Rotunda. The Awards honor heroes among us – both professionals in the field of child welfare and everyday residents, as well as a media champion. The event showcases youth musical performances and also pays somber tribute to the children who lost their lives to child abuse in Pennsylvania. Ahead of the ceremony, PFSA and volunteers will plant 4,416 blue ribbon flags and 46 black flags at the Capitol as reminders of each Pennsylvania child harmed by abuse. The blue ribbon is a symbol of child abuse prevention. “We encourage Pennsylvanians to visit Harrisburg in early April to see this powerful testament to both the toll of child abuse and the need for each of us to step up and be Champions for Safe Kids,” said Angela M. Liddle, MPA, PFSA president and CEO.

The PA Department of Human Services joins PFSA in encouraging all Pennsylvanians to mark April 4 as #WearBlueDay #ShineBlueDay. Blue lights will illuminate the State Capitol, Market Street Bridge, State Street Corridor, PA Turnpike Central Administration Building,  Harrisburg Hilton, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and homes and businesses throughout the commonwealth.  

“Let the children of Pennsylvania know they are not alone and are a priority,” said Acting DHS
Secretary Teresa Miller. “I encourage all Pennsylvanians to come together and wear blue on April 4th in support of this important cause. Together, we can protect Pennsylvania’s children.” 


Schedule of PFSA Child Abuse Prevention Events:

Front Porch Project, a community workshop that teaches residents proven strategies to defuse situations posing potential harm to a child.

Luzerne County, March 22, 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Wyoming Valley West Middle School, 201
Chester Street, Kingston, Pa. Sponsored by United Way of Wyoming Valley.

Blue Ribbon Flag-Planting, PFSA, Miss Pennsylvania 2017 Katie Schreckengast, 2015 Red Land Little League World Series U.S. Champions led by Cole Wagner, and volunteers will plant 4,416 blue ribbon flags and 46 black flags along the State Street Corridor and the front of the PA State Capitol for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Dauphin County, March 31, 8-9:30 a.m. – State and Third Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.

PA Blue Ribbon Champions for Safe Kids Awards, a free, open-to-the-public ceremony honoring five Pennsylvanians for their contributions to child safety. Features youth musical performances by Newport High School’s Innovation Choir and Capital Area School for the Arts, and appearances by Miss Pennsylvania 2017 Katie Schreckengast, sports team mascots, Hershey Entertainment characters, and Turkey Hill’s Giant Cow. 

Dauphin County, April 4, 10:30 a.m. – Noon – State Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, Pa.

Painting for Prevention, a free, community mural-painting project to showcase love and support for children through art.             

Fulton County, April 5, 1-4 p.m. – McConnellsburg Fire Hall, 112 Maple Street, McConnellsburg, Pa.   Local contact: Dixie Paruch  [email protected]

Dauphin County, April 16, 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Capital Area Head Start, Martin Luther
King Center, 17th and Walnut Streets., Harrisburg, Pa. (NOTE: Not open to the public/media welcome.)  Local contact: Kim Smith [email protected]

Berks County, April 20, 4-7 p.m., First Energy Stadium, 1900 Centre Ave., (Route 61),
Reading Pa.  Local contact: Jill Troutman (Children’s Home of Reading)[email protected]

The Hershey® 10K, a 6.2 mile run through Hershey to benefit charitable causes including PFSA. Dauphin County, April 7, 7:30 a.m. at Hersheypark.

Recovering Families Instructor Training: Bucks County, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. – Family
Service Association of Bucks County, 4 Cornerstone Drive, Langhorne, PA 19047

Mandated Reporter Training in the Recognition and Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse. Sessions will be held statewide. For a full listing and to register, please visit pa-fsa.org.

ABOUT PFSA: Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance prevents child abuse and protects children from harm by helping parents learn positive parenting techniques, educating professionals and volunteers who work with children to recognize and report child abuse, and helping community members learn how they can play a positive role in keeping children safe. To learn more about our programs, schedule a training, or make a donation, please visit pa-fsa.org, or call 800-448-4906.