Home Child abuse, neglect, focus of community awareness effort in April
Local News

Child abuse, neglect, focus of community awareness effort in April

Chris Graham

policeA coalition of community groups are working to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect in the Greater Augusta community in the month of April.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Blue Ridge SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) – including the Child Advocacy Center, Department of Social Services, CASA, and the Central Shenandoah Office on Youth – will be putting up pinwheel displays at locations including the Waynesboro Library, Augusta County Library and Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, and will be placing blue ribbons to trees at locations across the region to put focus on the issue.

According to Blue Ridge SCAN, 909 investigations into alleged child abuse or neglect were undertaken by the Department of Social Services in Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro in 2018.

Blue Ridge SCAN events in April/May 2019

  • Friday, April 5: Wear Blue Day
  • Friday, April 5: Valley Children’s Advocacy Center Ribbon Cutting and Open House – 11:00am
  • Sunday, April 7: Family Funday at Embrace Waynesboro, 932 Fir St. – 1:00 – 3:00 pm
  • Monday, April 8: Waynesboro City Council Proclamation Reading
  • Wednesday, April 10: Augusta County Board of Supervisors Proclamation Reading
  • Thursday, April 12: Staunton City Council Proclamation Reading
  • Saturday, April 13: Valley Children’s Advocacy Center Annual Spring Gala at Red August Farm
  • Tuesday, April 16: Blue Ridge CASA presents “Undeniable Volunteering” Brown Bag Lunch, Icehouse Building, JMU
  • Thursday, April 18: “The Tale” Screening and Community Discussion, Francis Auditorium, MBU – 6:00pm
  • Thursday, April 25: Virginia Summit on Trauma and Resilience, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond
  • Saturday, April 27: Sexual Assault Awareness Brunch, Frontier Culture Museum
  • Sunday, April 28: CASA Blues Benefit Concert, Frontier Culture Museum
  • Tuesday, April 30: Stewards of Children and Mandated Reporter Training at Valley Children’s Advocacy Center
  • Saturday, May 11: Kids Matter Day – Gypsy Hill Park Staunton – 10:00am – 1:00pm

Marketplace




Support AFP



Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].

Latest News

tyler jones uva football
Football

UVA Athletics is losing an important guy, Tyler Jones, to an ACC rival

baltimore orioles mlb
Baseball

MLB Today: O’s fall in getaway day matinee to D’backs

Jeremiah Jackson homered again, but Arizona relievers retired the final 11 Baltimore hitters in order, and the Diamondbacks scored three runs in the top of the 10th in an 8-5 win on Wednesday in Camden Yards.

waynesboro map
Local News

Waynesboro: Leaders make no-brainer move to support affordable housing

The #1 need in Waynesboro: affordable housing. Credit to Waynesboro City Council for voting Monday night to fill a funding gap from the Trump administration to get a $36 million affordable-housing project moving forward. One City Council member, before voting in favor of a resolution that will have the city kick in $500,000 toward the...

northern virginia
Politics

Podcast: What’s at stake in the April 21 redistricting referendum

chris graham uva basketball 2025
Etc.

Russini-gate: Are we making too much of how journalism is done?

uva football acc championship game
Football

UVA Football: A look at the roster, needs heading into the spring game

virginia 10-1 map
Politics

Analysis: Looking at turnout data to forecast the April 21 referendum