Latest news with #ChildAbuseAwarenessMonth
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erin's Angels re-introduces a bill to help protect children
PHOENIX, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — April is Child Abuse Awareness Month, and the Phoenix non-profit Erin's Angels is re-introducing a bill in remembrance of Erin Maxwell. The 11-year-old was murdered by her step-brother in their Palermo home in 2008. Erin's Angels advisory committee is urging lawmakers to pass the Children's Bill of Rights this time around. NY State Senate Bill 2009-S1510, also known as Erin's Law, was first introduced by Senator DeFrancisco in 2009. The bill never passed and has since been renamed to the Children's Bill of Rights. 'Right now, the minimum standards for care for children in New York State is abysmally low,' said Sheila Dion, founder and director of Erin's Angels. The bill aims to raise those standards — ensuring that children have access to clean water, sufficient food, proper bedding, hygiene, and other basic necessities. 'If you look at the statistics in Oswego County, our abuse, neglect, and maltreatment rate is three times the state rate. I don't see that changing without the introduction or the passage of this bill,' said Jackie Flint, president of the board of directors for Erin's Angels. The bill would also strengthen penalties for crimes against children under 14, including heavier sentences for people like Erin Maxwell's step-brother, Alan Jones. Jones served nearly nine years in prison for killing Erin. He was released in 2018 and now walks free. 'Meanwhile she's not here anymore, and that's atrocious. Shame on us as a community,' said Dion. If passed, the bill would make the aggravated murder of a child a Class A-1 felony, carrying a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. 'Our advisory committee doesn't want life to go on anymore. We want to stop it right here and say, 'No, these minimum standards of care need to be increased. They need to be raised. We need to protect these kids with this law.' And so we're asking for support from the community to sign our petition,' said Dion. Dion said about 1,500 people have signed the petition so far. She's hoping to get 10,000 signatures by September. There are also many concerns if the bill doesn't pass. 'I think we're going to see a lot of the same outcomes. As you look, just since Erin Maxwell's death, we've had three more tragedies just in Oswego County alone,' said Flint. The petition can be found here. NewsChannel 9 reached out to Senator Chris Ryan's office for an update on the bill. We're still waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Connecticut leaders to discuss link between child and animal abuse
NEWINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) — Gov. Ned Lamont will highlight how the state stops child and animal abuse on Wednesday. He says there's often a link between the two, and that being used to identify new cases. This is all in recognition of Child Abuse Awareness Month and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. State leaders remind residents of road safety on National Work Zone Awareness Week Governor Lamont will join animal welfare advocates at 11 a.m. at a news conference in Newington. He'll be highlighting the 'proactive' work among Connecticut state agencies to 'cross-report' accounts of animal cruelty and potential child abuse in households where these reports have occurred. The state says numerous studies show a strong correlation between animal abuse, child maltreatment, and other forms of interpersonal violence, including domestic violence and elder abuse. This correlation is often referred to as 'the link.' In recent years, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture have been working together, using this 'link' to collaborate on work and identify more of these offenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Children's Center receives boost from Kia dealership
JOPLIN, Mo. — A local children's agency gets a big donation today. The folks at Roper Kia presented a check for $3,500 to the Children's Center of Southwest Missouri. The money will help with the center's operations and to purchase 'comfort items' like stuffed animals. To donate, Roper Kia set aside a portion of every vehicle sold in April, which happens to be 'Child Abuse Awareness Month.' The dealership has supported the Children's Center for more than a decade. 'Nobody likes to talk about the situation some of our kids have to go through, and so we want to be there to help these guys because they're doing things that are really, really helpful to kids, kids in trouble, and kids in need,' said Jack Frost, Roper Kia owner. 'We rely heavily on donations to keep us afloat. There are always things that we are in need of, and oftentimes grants don't cover everything, so we have a really great community that is a giving community, and it it helps us stay in operation,' said Betsy Mense, Children's Center of Southwest Missouri executive director. Last year, the Children's Center helped more than 900 child abuse survivors in Southwest Missouri. The agency is funded by grants and fundraisers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon helps hundreds learn Hands-Only CPR
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Around 200 people used test dummies to practice chest compressions at Memorial Stadium on Friday during the Christie Clinic Race Weekend. For the proper Hands-Only CPR technique, you clench your hands together and press down until you hear a click which signals you've gone down far enough to actually get blood pumping. Now, because of the training, hundreds will be ready to step in during life-threatening scenarios. Champaign Co. Children's Advocacy Center holds open house for Child Abuse Awareness Month 'We saw a need to bring attention to Hands-Only CPR for those that are out on the course,' said Medical Director Lynn Ullestad. If you're at the Illinois Marathon on Saturday, you might see someone wearing a yellow bib. It means they've been trained in Hands-Only CPR. 'We hope no one ever has to use it,' Ullestad said. 'But if there's a need, we want people to know what to do.' It's lead by the American Heart Association. More than 40 volunteers taught the basic technique and made sure they were able to demonstrate the movement effectively. 'Push hard, push fast,' Ullestad said. 'That's the immediate lesson here.' Alida de Flamingh is running the 10K for the first time. She heard about the class from an email the race sent out and was moved by the story of Rafael Ruggeri: A doctor who had a heart attack on the course but was saved by his son through Hands-Only CPR. Best Buddies Friendship Walk making a difference in Champaign '[If] I'm in a situation like that, I want to be able to help save somebody's life,' de Flamingh said. The training was open to anyone, not just racers. The Fighting Illini women's soccer team dropped in through their head coach's unique connection. 'My wife works for Stryker who's a big sponsor of the event,' said Head Women's Soccer Coach Katie Hultin. 'We're pretty passionate about it in our house.' Hultin said Hands-Only CPR is great for their sport because of how much they run. But it's also helpful off the pitch, with hundreds coming to visit for camps and recruiting, not to mention everyday life. 'I'm moving my family here,' Hultin said. 'I've got 30 athletes that live in this community as well, and to know that all of these people are taking time out of their day to learn this skill that hopefully they never have to use, but if they do, they're going to be prepared.' The American Heart Association employee who was running the training said someone who took this training in February has already saved someone's life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Champaign Co. Children's Advocacy Center holds open house for Child Abuse Awareness Month
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — It's Child Abuse Awareness Month and the Champaign County Children's Advocacy Center wants children and families to know they're here to help. The center held an open house Friday to get the word out about their efforts to protect kids. It has been helping children for four decades. They took the opportunity to refresh people on their vital services at the open house. Workers Memorial Day in Champaign honoring two Central IL State Troopers 'Teachers, law enforcement, DCFS, all those those groups,' said CAC's deputy administrator, Elizabeth Lebs. 'We want them to know that we're here and remind them that we want to support them.'She has always wanted to help children, and said she found her perfect fit at the center.'I was really inspired to work with kids. I kind of have taken a roundabout path to get here,' she said. 'I was a teacher for a little bit. I did a few different things, but my passion has always been supporting kids and family.'CAC's executive director Dr. Lisa Liggins-Chambers said, before the center, children who were abused would have to talk about their experiences over and over. CAC uses a team approach where kids only have to recount their abuse once.'[We're] helping children who have been sexually abused or severely physically abused,' she said. 'So, it's a team approach to making sure that these children feel safe, supported and taken care of.' Lebs knows how difficult it can be for a child. She went through adversity as a kid, and said her experience doesn't make the job easier, but if she can help a child look towards a better future – that's what matters most. 'A lot of times when families come here, it's one of the worst days of their lives,' Lebs said. 'They're going through some really tough stuff.' Champaign County CAC has a couple of fundraisers coming up this summer. For more information on those, and how you can donate, you can visit their website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
