ROCHELLE — On Friday, Illinois residents are encouraged to wear blue in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month and to show support for child abuse awareness. Go Blue Day seeks to educate about the prevalence of child abuse, with one in 10 children experiencing abuse or neglect during their childhood. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, and local organizations are joining efforts to promote positive experiences for children and healthy families.
Jessica Cash, Executive Director of Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center in Dixon, said abuse doesn’t discriminate.
“Child abuse happens in every town, every county, every sex, gender, social economic status, it’s everywhere.
No population is immune to child abuse,” she said. “The bigger cases you hear about, the child deaths, things like that, but the abuse is definitely happening.”
Participants are encouraged to share photos on social media using the hashtags #EveryChildNeedsAHero, #GoBlueIllinois, and #GreatChildhoods to help spread awareness and support for preventing child abuse across the state.
