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The Polk County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution Monday night declaring April 2022 as “Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month.”

 

Kim Wilson, senior program manager with Polk County Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, delivered a brief update to the board on activities DSS has planned to mark the special awareness month, including pinwheel gardens throughout the county and a suicide prevention training session on April 28. Pole banners will also be going up in Columbus and Tryon to bring awareness.

 

“We live in a great community, and I think sometimes the problem here goes unnoticed,” Wilson said. 

 

Last year, according to Wilson, Polk County’s Child Protective Services received 356 reports concerning children and families. She said there are 47 children in foster care in Polk County now, and that on average, the agency works with 100 children and families a month.

 

“We do still have a problem here in Polk County. We’d like your assistance to help spread the word and awareness of child abuse and neglect in our community and to promote prevention activities,” she said to the board of commissioners.

 

The resolution reads in part, “Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Polk County Board of Commissioners declares April 2022 as ‘Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month’ and call upon all citizens, community agencies, faith groups, medical facilities, elected leaders and businesses to recognize this month by dedicating ourselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families, thereby preventing child abuse and neglect and strengthening the community in which we live.”

 

The resolution was adopted unanimously.