Supporting families, preventing child abuse

I was honored last week to join Kid’s Place staff and Lawrenceburg Mayor Blake Lay to officially begin our local observance of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Pinwheels—symbols of a healthy, happy childhood—are displayed across the country to remind us that not every child enjoys that experience. We planted pinwheels at the Lawrence County Courthouse to recognize child advocacy centers like Kid’s Place, which help survivors of abuse heal and find hope.

Kid’s Place serves children who have endured sexual or severe physical abuse, as well as their non-offending family members, in Lawrence, Giles, Wayne, and Maury counties. The agency began here in 1998 and now operates permanent satellite locations in the other three counties. I was privileged to serve on the Kid’s Place Board of Directors from 2013 to 2024 and honored to serve as chairman for ten of those years.

All Kid’s Place services are provided free of charge, making the organization reliant on grants and local donations. I encourage you to support this crucial work and the lasting benefits it provides to children, families, and our community as a whole. There are many ways to help, all outlined on the agency’s website at www.kpcac.org.
Demand for the agency’s services has not diminished. Consider these 2025 figures:
437 child-focused forensic interviews were conducted.

168 child survivors received trauma-focused, evidence-based therapy.
646 families received advocacy services.
3,812 children and 1,154 adults participated in prevention, community awareness, and education programs.
These numbers reflect Kid’s Place’s proactive stance against abuse in our communities. Its prevention efforts equip children with the knowledge to stay safe and empower adults to recognize and report signs of abuse.
We all play a role in preventing child abuse when we support organizations that strengthen families. Our community is filled with churches, civic groups, and nonprofits that stand ready to help people in both good times and difficult moments. I encourage you to be part of that support system, whose impact is more far-reaching than you might imagine.