CAMCAC to hold virtual rally for 2021 Child Abuse Awareness Month

In conjunction with Child Abuse Awareness Month in April, the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center will hold its annual Child Abuse Awareness Rally virtually on April 16.

A second virtual rally will be held on April 30 in Benton. The rallies “will highlight Child Abuse Awareness Month and honor those who serve on the front lines in the war against child abuse. CAMCAC will award the Patrick McCruden Superhero Award to an outstanding worker for their service to children,” according to the CAMCAC website.

The events will feature Arkansas’ first lady, Susan Hutchinson, a local children’s choir and a silent auction, according to the site. A link to the virtual event will be shared prior to the event date when a minimum $25 donation is made at https://mercyhealthfoundation.net/CAMCACrally/.

“Approximately 25% of children in Garland County suffer from abuse, yet many of them are suffering in silence,” CAMCAC said in a release, noting April’s awareness events serve “to shine a spotlight on abuses that often go unseen or without intervention.”

Cooper-Anthony is one of 17 child advocacy centers located throughout Arkansas that provide a safe place for children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse and neglect. Services are free and include mental health therapy, medical exams and a one-time forensic interview for victims with law enforcement, the release said.

CAMCAC also employs prevention education specialists to offer free school and community resources.

“Our mission has become even more important during this pandemic because when schools implemented remote learning, children were forced into isolation, and signs of abuse went undetected,” Tracey Childress, CAMCAC’s director, said in the release. “As in-person learning resumes in schools, we expect reported cases to continue to grow, and our staff will be here to help — as we always are,” she said.

“Physical abuse and neglect are most affected by socioeconomic status, which was widely impacted by COVID-19 as families lost employment,” according to the National Children’s Advocacy Center, which also noted “sexual abuse occurs equally across all levels of society.”

For more information on the rallies, visit https://mercyhealthfoundation.net/CAMCACrally/.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, call the statewide Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline at 844-SAVE-A-CHILD, or 800-482-5964.

The Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center was founded in Hot Springs by Mercy in 2003, followed by satellite centers in Saline and Polk counties. In 2012, CAMCAC was awarded the highest level of membership with the National Children’s Alliance, the accrediting agency for children’s advocacy centers.

CAMCAC serves Garland, Saline, Polk, Grant, Montgomery and Hot Spring counties.

For more information on CAMCAC visit https://mercyhealthfoundation.net/communities/cooper-anthony/.