The Indiana Department of Child Services honored the start of Child Abuse Prevention Month with a virtual event featuring Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, DCS Director Terry Stigdon, and more.

“Our partners, providers, hospitals, and schools – along with each of you – play such a vital role in keeping children safe, healthy, and happy,” Governor Holcomb stated.

Indiana is a mandatory reporting state, which means anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused must – by state law – make a report.

“Wearing blue or carrying and planting pinwheels and posting them on social media will raise awareness, but in and of themselves won’t stop harm from happening to children,” Stigdon said. “We stop it by taking action.”

“Child abuse is preventable,” Schumacher agreed, “but it takes action at many levels.”

For more information and resources on preventing child abuse and neglect, click here