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

Guest Editorial: Child Abuse

Posted: Updated:

  • 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
    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

  • 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;
    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;

  • 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. 
    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. 
    •   
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and events will be scheduled throughout the state to bring public awareness and education to the citizens of Alabama. 

The Alabama Department of Child Abuse Prevention funded 175 programs last year at the community level to prevent child maltreatment and to strengthen Alabama families. 

The direct and indirect cost of child abuse to our state annually is approximately $520 M dollars.  48 Infants died last year from Unsafe Sleeping environments; the number 2 cause of death in the birth to 3 age range, and the #3 cause of death was from shaking babies. 

Given the current economic atmosphere the hometown agencies will need to be supported with local funding as well as volunteer time.  

Last year alone there were over 200,000 volunteer hours donated in these 175 community programs aimed at the prevention of child maltreatment across the state; this is equal to 4M dollars in real money. 

In these times of economic hardship we must protect the most vulnerable segment of our population, our children.  So please join us, the Alabama Department of Child Abuse Prevention and our community programs, give generously of your time and talent to protect our most precious resource, Alabama's children.

Copyright 2011 WSFA 12 News. All rights reserved.