Head Start staff walk through Salem parks to recognize Child Abuse Awareness Month 

Dozens marched across the Union Street Pedestrian Bridge Tuesday morning in recognition of the first day of Child Abuse Awareness Month.

Most participants were teachers, classroom assistants and other employees of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency’s Head Start programs, according to operations manager Debra Devine.

Participants in the Tuesday walk looped from Riverfront Park to Wallace Marine Park and back.

One woman, a health assistant for Community Action who identified herself as Lisa, said she was a victim of sexual abuse as a child. Her experience has compelled her to attend walks ever year for 15 years to spread awareness about child abuse. 

Valerie Pickering, a preschool teacher, said it was important for school employees to participate in the walk and let parents know that they are mandatory reporters, required under state law to report suspected child abuse.

Many people in Salem are not aware how common child abuse is in their community, said Flor Contreras, an office assistant for Community Action Head Start.

“It happens every day, anywhere, anytime,” Contreras said. 

Marisol Hernandez, who processes applications for Head Start families, said it’s important to help give a voice to children who can’t speak up for themselves, and that everyone in the community works toward helping children feel safe and secure.

Hernandez said she was touched by a sign held by some of her coworkers which read, “It doesn’t have to hurt to be a child.”

Having worked as a home visitor for families, she said she’s seen first-time parents who unintentionally neglect their children or raise their voices out of anger or frustration. She said she wants to educate parents about what child neglect is and what they can do to avoid it.

‘Paint the town blue’

The walk set the stage for a car parade recognizing Child Abuse Awareness Month, organized by service providers fighting child abuse. The event is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Oregon State Fairgrounds pavilion parking lot, 2330 17th St. N.E. 

Participants will decorate their vehicles before driving to the Salem Police Department station for a community gathering. There will be brief remarks from leaders of local organizations which work to prevent child abuse, including CASA of Marion County, Liberty House and the Salem YMCA. More information is available online.

Liberty House, a child advocacy center in Salem, will also provide a series of trainings throughout April to educate parents, caregivers and other adults about protecting children from abuse. Program information is available in English and Spanish, and registration can be done online. People can also contact Liberty House for more information at [email protected] or (971) 599-5876. 

Visitors to Riverfront Park throughout April will find 1,090 blue ribbon clusters hung from a tree, representing the 11,090 confirmed Oregon children who were victims of abuse or neglect in 2023.

Blue lights recognizing Child Abuse Awareness Month will be on display throughout the month on the YMCA rooftop and at Courthouse Square. The latter will also have a garden of pinwheels, a national symbol for child abuse prevention, according to the Marion County website.

The Union Street Pedestrian Bridge will also be lit blue through April 8.

People can print their own posters encouraging others to “paint the town blue to prevent child abuse” in English and Spanish. The county also provides an online guide for people to make their own pinwheel.

Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.

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