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    A time to raise awareness

    A time to raise awareness

    Photo By Sgt. Shannon Yount | Residents and base employees participate during the Stroller Strong Walk hosted by the...... read more read more

    BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES

    04.12.2013

    Story by Sgt. Shannon Yount 

    Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

    BARSTOW, Calif. - As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, some Barstow residents took strollers to asphalt to raise awareness of child abuse prevention on Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, April 2.

    A presidential proclamation signed by President Barack Obama, encouraging communities to restore support to abolish child abuse and neglect, was published the same day as base residents and employees walked the streets of the installation.

    “This was the first stroller walk to raise awareness for child abuse on the base,” said Elizabeth Clawson, the New Parent Support Program manager with Marine Corps Community Services on the base. This was an opportunity to make service members and military spouses more aware of child abuse, and how to protect those who can’t protect themselves, she added.

    “I came out to support a great cause and thought it would be fun,” said Melanie Morales, an administrative assistant with Marine Corps Family Team Building on base. “Even though my children are all grown up, that doesn’t stop me from being a mandatory reporter.”

    The Marine Corps defines child abuse when a parent, guardian, foster parent, or a caregiver puts a child’s well-being in jeopardy due to physical or sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child.

    During the event, volunteers walked from the Desert View Housing Community Center to the Maj. Gen. James L. Day Conference Center where participants sat down together to talk about child abuse and different ways to report an incident. After the discussion, individuals were given the option to participate in friendly competitions such as a stroller race on an obstacle course.

    Several warning signs that a child may be a victim of child abuse were discussed, explained Clawson.

    “If a child is left unattended, that is neglect,” she said. If there are bruises on an infant who is not mobile or a toddler who is mobile and has bruises on their back, neck, ears or on the face, they may be a victim of physical abuse.

    “Before you decide to make a report, gather information and clarify the situation,” said Clawson. Talk to the child and look for indications of child abuse and think of plausible explanations for those signs. If there are no probable explanations, report it to the Family Advocacy Program.

    As the event came to an end, participants walked the remaining three miles back to the Desert View Housing Community Center, where Clawson addressed the crowd, “Thank you for showing up and walking with us ... thank you for supporting the prevention of child abuse.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.12.2013
    Date Posted: 04.12.2013 12:47
    Story ID: 105097
    Location: BARSTOW, CA, US

    Web Views: 30
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN