Maui Groups Kick Off National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Courtesy image.

Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui and Ho‘oikaika Partnership invite Maui County keiki and families to attend a special kick-off event to help celebrate National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

The event includes a proclamation by the Mayor and special performance by Uncle Wayne and the Howling Dog Band on Monday, April 4, 2016, at the Kalana O Maui “County Building” front lawn at 9 a.m.

Maui County Child Abuse Prevention Month Activities are also sponsored by Hawaiʻi Children’s Trust Fund through the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse Hawaiʻi and State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health.

These partners are coming together because in addition to being National Child Abuse Prevention Month, April is also the Month of the Young Child.  Organizers say, “It is appropriate that the two occur in the same month because 43% of child maltreatment victims nationally and in Hawai‘i are under the age of five.”

Maui County Child Abuse Prevention Events for April 2016

• Monday, April 4, 9-11 a.m.: Mayor’s Proclamation and concert by Uncle Wayne and the Howling Dog Band, Maui County Building Front Lawn in Wailuku
• Tuesday, April 5, 3 p.m.: Reading of Mayor’s Proclamation, Dole Administration Building, Lānaʻi

About Ho‘oikaika Partnership

The Ho‘oikaika Partnership is a coalition of over 50 Maui County agencies and individuals committed to preventing child abuse and neglect.

The work of the Partnership is guided by the Core Partners: Edeluisa Baguio-Larena, Chief Executive Officer, Maui Family Support Services; Jeny Bissell, Family Health Services Division Supervisor, Maui District Health Office; Nicole Hokoana, Director, Child & Family Service Maui County Programs; Tina Kiyabu-Crowell, Quality Assurance Specialist, Maui Family Guidance Center; Bobbie-Jo Moniz-Tadeo, Program Director and Early Childhood Specialist, Imua Family Services; Paul Tonnessen, Executive Director, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui.

For a complete listing of the Ho‘oikaika Partnership members and for child abuse prevention resources including brochures about the Protective Factors, please visit the Hoʻoikaika Partnership website.  More information is also available by contacting Ashley Santander, Partnership Coordinator, at [email protected] or (808) 280-9714.