Hands held in Monmouth for child abuse prevention and awareness

Despite the threatening weather in Monmouth, Hands Around The Warren County Courthouse was held yesterday afternoon a 2pm on the downtown square around the fountain. April is Child Abuse Prevention month and the public event was held to raise awareness of and prevent child abuse in Warren County. Mariah Huston, Victim Services Preventionist with the Western Illinois Regional Council talked about what everyone can do to help the children…
“talking to the children about what’s important about knowing their body, knowing what’s a safe touch, knowing what is an unsafe touch. If something is making them feel uncomfortable or scared that it’s OK to talk to a safe grown up. Identifying safe grown ups, safe adults, in their home; their schools; their community; that they can reach out to and talk to is gonna help a child feel more comfortable. We want to start by believing those children when they come forward and when we want to encourage them to not keep secrets. That secret of somebody trying to make them feel uncomfortable or scared is going to be a secret that is going to continue to hurt their body as well.”
If you are in crisis and need to speak immediately with a counselor or advocate, call the free and confidential crisis hotline at 309-837-5555. It’s open 24/7.