LEXINGTON, Ky. — April is Child Abuse Prevention month, and Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky is partnering with Greyline Station in Lexington to bring awareness throughout the month.

What You Need To Know

  • April is Child Abuse Prevention month

  • Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky is partnering with local businesses

  • Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky launched a New Safety and Awareness Campaign

  • This campaign will provide resources for community members to start making a difference 

Charlotte Box-Lacey, a local 10-year-old, has partnered with Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky to spread awareness of child abuse in her community. 

“It’s important because child abuse can really harm kids and it’s best if they’re not having to stand up for themselves,” Box-Lacey said.

Box-Lacey said even at a young age, she works to protect herself and others around her from different types of abuse. 

“I will try to stand up. Also, I try to stand up for other kids, when someone is being rude to them,” Box-Lacey said.

Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky partnered with local business owners, like Wes Hogan, of Old North Bar, raising funds and prevention awareness.

“It’s always better to give than to receive and it really feels like that’s a value we embrace at Old North. We want to be a part of our community and help others,” Hogan said.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Children’s Bureau, the child maltreatment report from 2019 stated that Kentucky had over 20,000 abuse cases, meaning about 20 out of every 1,000 children in the Commonwealth experienced some type of abuse. 

For comparison, the data also shows that the U.S. average is around 8.9 for every 1,000 children. 

Kentucky has more than double that number. The Director of Operations, Janna Estep Jordan, says it’s a change that needs to start today in this community. 

“We talk about body safety and talk about prevention because prevention begins with each of you here today and we know that child sexual abuse prevention is possible when we talk about it,” Estep Jordan said. 

A message that Box-Lacey said she’s thankful for community members to help start these tough conversations. 

“I’m happy to see that everyone here cares about preventing child abuse for children even if they are not the children, they care about spreading this passage and preventing child abuse from their own children,” Box-Lacey said.

Hogan, along with Greyline Station businesses, will have various items like donuts and specialty drinks throughout the month, symbolizing their stance against child abuse. 

The Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky organization launched a New Safety and Awareness Campaign online with resources, tools and support for people in Kentucky experiencing or witnessing child abuse. 

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