April is Blue Ribbon Month To Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect

Show your support. Wear a blue ribbon during April to alert others about child abuse and neglect.

See photos of the April 2009 Blue Ribbon Month kickoff.

Members of the St. Louis Family & Community Partnership join each April in observing Blue Ribbon Month to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect. The purpose is to call community attention to the continuing problem of child abuse, and encourage the public to support efforts to strengthen families as the best way to prevent child abuse from developing. A variety of activities are held throughout St. Louis, including a kickoff event at St. Louis City Hall as well as events at many local child-care centers. Also during the month, the water in the Kiener Plaza fountains is colored blue in honor of Blue Ribbon, and Partnership supporters wear blue ribbons.

National Background on Blue Ribbon Month

Since 1989, the blue ribbon has been widely recognized as a national symbol of child abuse awareness. This movement began when a concerned grandmother, Bonnie Finney, of Norfolk, Virginia, took a stand against child abuse after experiencing the death of her grandson. She tied a symbolic blue ribbon to her van as a signal to her community of her personal commitment to involve everyone in the battle to stop child abuse. Bonnie's grandson, Michael Wayne "Bubba" Dickenson, was a tragic, young victim, and his death gave her the strength to encourage others to help in the fight against child abuse and neglect.

In 1983, April was designated the First National Child Abuse Prevention Month—a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to support children and families. This April marks the 25th anniversary of the original Presidential Proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Collectively, these events inspire thousands of individuals, organizations, communities across the country to not only find ways to remember those that have died as a result of child abuse but to promote public awareness around strengthening families and child abuse and neglect prevention activities.

To learn more about the history of National Child Abuse Prevention Month visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway (formerly, the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information)

For more information about Missouri's Blue Ribbon Campaign visit Missouri Kids First.