Voices of Courages gears up for Child Abuse Prevention Month

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center is spearheading a series of powerful community initiatives aimed at raising awareness about child sexual abuse and equipping families with essential tools to protect children from harm. 

According to officials at Voices of Courage, 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday and even more children than that will suffer physical abuse and significant emotional abuse prior. 

Voices of Courage is shining a light on these cases and how people can help fight them. 

“We like to use this time as a reminder to the community that child abuse does happen and it is an issue,” said Melissa Birdsell, Executive Director of Voices of Courage. “So we're very excited to have some activities coming up that will showcase provision.” 

Child abuse cases often go undetected for several reasons, including confusion about what constitutes abuse or neglect, fear of making false reports, and concerns about the system's ability to effectively address these issues.

"What we need is for adults to recognize the signs of child abuse and feel confident discussing it," Birdsell said. "It's a difficult topic for anyone, but we must address it openly because when the community actively looks out for children, we create a safer environment for them." 

The community can take part in a series of upcoming events beginning Saturday, April 5, aimed at raising awareness about child abuse and supporting efforts to prevent it. 

The Dance Arts Center in St. Joseph is hosting the ‘A Chance to Dance’ Benefit on Saturday, April 5, at 6 p.m. at the Missouri Theater. The event will feature performances by 11 dance studios from across northwest Missouri and the Kansas City region, showcasing a variety of dance styles on the historic Missouri Theater stage. To date, ‘A Chance to Dance’ has raised over $150,000 for the Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center." 

Additionally, at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 7, at Grace Calvary Chapel, parents can attend a free community event to learn about the hidden signs of child abuse and discover effective strategies for keeping their children safe online."  

“Russ Tuttle, the owner and CEO of the Stop Trafficking Project, will be the guest speaker and he offers valuable insights, particularly for parents who may not be up to date with the latest technology and social media trends," Birdsell said. “His message is, that technology is not the enemy. We just have to learn how to navigate it and show our kids how to navigate it safely.”