Every year the month of April is dedicated to children. Not only is it National Child Abuse Awareness Month, but one week of the month has been named “Week of the Young Child™”. Southeastern Illinois College helped raise awareness of these causes.
SIC President Dr. Jonah Rice joined some of the children and teachers in SIC’s Mary Jo Oldham Center for Child Study (MJOCCS) to sign a proclamation declaring the official “Week of the Young Child™” April 16-20.
The Week of the Young Child ™ is an annual national celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The special week recognizes the importance of quality child care, children and their families and the programs that serve them.
Special activities were planned throughout the week, including a special week-long art display in the SIC Art Gallery with art from each child on display. There were also dress-up days with special themes.
The children also got to parade through the halls of campus with Harrisburg Mayor John McPeek. Mayor McPeek signed a proclamation stating that April is Child Abuse Prevention month in Harrisburg on Tuesday, April 24, in cooperation with the Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Coalition of Southern Illinois.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families.
For more information on the Mary Jo Oldham Center for Child Study, contact Caroline McSparin at (618) 252-5400 Ext 3400 or [email protected].
