Guest Editorial: Child Abuse - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Guest Editorial: Child Abuse

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
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  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
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  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
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    •   

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - As we see the month of April come to a close so does Child Abuse Awareness Month.  

Unfortunately in the last month the Montgomery area has seen two children die tragically and needlessly from abusive head trauma. 

Approximately 76% of child deaths in the (0-3) age group in Alabama are the result of unsafe sleeping environments or abusive head injury. 

According to the Alabama Department of Child Abuse Prevention, child abuse and neglect costs the tax payers of Alabama over $520,000,000 annually in direct and indirect costs.  

Children who suffer from abuse have an increased rate of addiction, violent behavior and incarceration.  Child abuse and neglect diminishes the quality of life for all of our citizens. 

The Department of Child Abuse Prevention funds 25 programs in the Montgomery area with the mission of raising healthy children and supporting a safe environment to raise our children.  

It is much cheaper to nurture a child than it is to fix a broken adult.  We all have a role to play.  Let's all do our part to keep Alabama's children safe. 

Kelley Parris Barnes
Director Al Dept. of Child Abuse Prevention 

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