Proviso Children's Advocacy Center Goes Blue For Child Abuse Awareness Month

Submitted by Riverside police.
Photo: (L to R), RPD Lt. Bill Gutschick and Bonnie Fries, LCSW, Director Proviso Children’s Advocacy Center.

Broadview, IL - Proviso Children’s Advocacy Center and other child advocates in the community joined today at the PCAC to pledge their support for the 2016 Blue Bow Campaign. The Blue Bow Breakfast held on April 8th at the Center was a kick-off to month-long events designed to create awareness about child abuse.

“The month of April is an important time for our CAC to spread awareness of how child abuse impacts all families and all communities. Since 1992 the Proviso Children’s Advocacy Center has assisted in over 4,700 reports of child abuse, most of those due to allegations of child sexual abuse,” said Bonnie Fries, the Director of the Proviso CAC. “All child abuse is preventable so the Blue Bow Campaign is just one way we can show our support and shed a spotlight on those children brave enough to disclose abuse and a potential future for children to remain free from abuse.”

Dozens of blue bows have been tied on the trees and surrounding structures of community agencies to commit their support to the cause including:

Bellwood Police Department, Berkeley Police Department, Berwyn Police Department, Broadview Police Department, Brookfield Police Department, Cicero Police Department, Elmwood Park Police Department, Franklin Park Police Department, LaGrange Park Police Department, Melrose Park Police Department, Northlake Police Department, North Riverside Police Department, Riverside Police Department, River Forest Police Department, River Grove Police Department, Stone Park Police Department, and MacNeal Hospital.

Child Abuse Prevention Month activities will be held throughout the state during the month of April. Visit childrenshomeandaid.org/bluebow or preventchildabuseillinois.org for a list of statewide events and for information on parent support programs.