Brewster, NY – March 22, 2024 – April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This next month and throughout the year, the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Putnam County encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Putnam County a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and communities.

The CAC of Putnam County and the Friends of Putnam Child Advocacy Center will promote child abuse awareness throughout the month, with various activities including the 8th annual Champions for Children Breakfast. This event will take place at the Putnam County Golf Course located at 187 Hill Street in Mahopac on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 8:00 am. This year’s breakfast will feature survivor, advocate, and former New York State Police Investigator Sayeh Rivazfar.

The 2024 Champion for Children award is being presented to Chief Assistant District Attorney Chana Krauss. With more than thirty years as a prosecutor, sixteen with the District Attorney’s Office of Putnam County, Chana’s commitment to protecting children has been a hallmark of her service to the community.

Admission is $30. Tickets and additional information are available at (friendsofputnamcac.org).

Putnam County Wear Blue Day in support of preventing child abuse will be held on Friday, April 5th.  Also, on that day the Putnam County Courthouse will be lit blue.

“Preventing child abuse and neglect is a shared obligation and my office is committed to ensuring that every child has a chance to succeed and grow up in a safe and nurturing home,” said County Executive Kevin Byrne. “We look forward to lighting the courthouse blue to kick off the month and promote awareness.”

The Child Advocacy Center’s “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign will run throughout the month of April. “Pinwheels are a happy and uplifting token of childhood,” said CAC Program Director Marla Behler. “They are meant to convey that every child deserves the chance to be raised in a healthy, safe and nurturing environment.”  The CAC will continue its tradition of planting a large community pinwheel garden on Wednesday, April 3rd at 12:00pm in front of the Sybil Ludington Statue at Lake Gleneida on Route 6 in Carmel, across from St. James Church. Volunteers are welcome to join in planting the garden. Putnam schools will join the campaign for the third year; look for pinwheel gardens on their campuses.

 “The Child Advocacy Center is a program of the Putnam County Department of Social Services. The CAC has long advocated that education is imperative to preventing child abuse and continues to partner with Child Protective Services, Child Welfare Services, and local agencies to implement innovative programs to ensure the physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing of the children of Putnam County,” said Commissioner of Mental Health, Social Services & Youth Bureau Sara Servadio. “Awareness and education programs promote the importance of early and comprehensive prevention of abuse, not just response after it occurs.”

For more information on child abuse prevention programs call the CAC of Putnam County at (845) 808-1400.