The next in a series of workshops to reduce child abuse in LaPorte County, “Child Abuse & Neglect: Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves … And Get to Work,” will be held Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, at First United Methodist Church, 1225 Michigan Ave., LaPorte.
The workshop is open to the public and is especially of interest to parents, neighbors, teachers, child care workers, clergy, health care workers, law enforcement, and social services.
In 2008, 119 children in LaPorte County were served in domestic violence emergency care shelters. In the northern district of Indiana, 1,170 children were served at such shelters, and in the entire state, 3,895 children were served. So approximately one-third of children served were from the northern district.
The agenda for the workshop is: 8:30 a.m. coffee and registration; 9 a.m. presentations; 9:30 a.m. work groups; 11 a.m. report back to the group.
Work groups will focus on:
— How to increase awareness and education in our churches and communities
— Working toward stricter sentences for perpetrators of violence against children
— Bringing back control to our communities to handle cases of abuse
— Boxing items for children at area domestic violence shelters.
If you are able, please donate/bring: personal items/children’s toiletries; toys including infant toys, baby dolls, puzzles, board games and other games; arts and crafts supplies; books and manipulative toys; disposable diapers; baby wipes; Clorox wipes; and AA, C and D batteries. The items will be divided among the churches represented at the meeting.
Child care will be provided at the workshop. For more information, call First UMC at 362-2443.
