April declared 'Child Abuse Prevention Month' in Simpsonville

Program by victims advocate promotes child abuse awareness

(Release date: April 4, 2022)

Simpsonville, S.C. — A proclamation declaring April to be 'Child Abuse Prevention Month' in Simpsonville was presented to the Simpsonville Police Department over the weekend.

In a program organized on Saturday in City Park by Simpsonville Victims Advocate Milena Barroso, Faith Based & Victim Services Project Director at S.C. Victims Assistance Network Roger Acton read the proclamation signed by Mayor Paul Shewmaker before presenting it to Simpsonville Police Chief Mike Hanshaw.

Upon receiving the proclamation, Hanshaw said law enforcement officers cannot alone prevent child abuse and need the community and their partnerships to help protect children.

Children from Bundle of Joy Academy closed the program in a song presentation before getting goody bags, getting their faces painted and trying out yoga in the park by The Haven Yoga Studio & Spiritual Sanctuary.

Child Protective Services carried out almost 9,000 founded investigations involving nearly 16,000 children in South Carolina in fiscal year 2020-2021, according to the proclamation; more than 800 of those children resided in Greenville County.

Faith Based & Victim Services Project Director at S.C. Victims Assistance Network Roger Acton reads on Saturday a proclamation signed by Mayor Paul Shewmaker declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month in Simpsonville. Acton presented the proclamation to Simpsonville Police Chief Mike Hanshaw on behalf of Mayor Shewmaker | City of Simpsonville

Victims Advocate for the Simpsonville Police Department opens the Child Abuse Prevention Month program in City Park on Saturday | City of Simpsonville

Simpsonville Chaplain Daniel Clark gives the invocation at the Child Abuse Prevention Month program in City Park on Saturday | City of Simpsonville

Children from the Bundle of Joy Academy performed a song at the Child Abuse Prevention Month program in City Pakr on Saturday | City of Simpsonville

The children in attendance at the Child Abuse Prevention Month program were treated to a free 30-minute yoga session offered by The Haven Yoga Studio & Spiritual Sanctuary | City of Simpsonville

The Simpsonville Police Department hosted a Child Abuse Prevention Month program on Saturday in City Park to help raise awareness of child abuse in South Carolina and the need for communities to partner together for prevention | City of Simpsonville