GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — April is being recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Children’s Advocacy Center, along with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, raise the Children’s Memorial Flag with a white outline of a child to represent the empty space left behind by a child lost to abuse.

On Friday April 10th there will be a flag raising ceremony at 9 am at the Athol Public Library and at 11 am on the Greenfield Common. 

From the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office:

Flag Raisings in Athol and Greenfield
Recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month
GREENFIELD and ATHOL – Every year, in April, the nation recognizes National Child
Abuse Prevention Month, and we raise the Children’s Memorial flag as a symbol for the
protection of children and youth. The white outline of a child on the flag represents the empty
space left behind by a child who was lost to violence or abuse.

Appreciating the importance of working together to protect the most vulnerable among us—our
children—we will be hosting flag-raising ceremonies at two different venues this year, on
Friday, April 10:
• 9 a.m. at the Athol Public Library, 568 Main Street, Athol, MA 01331
• 11 a.m. on the Greenfield Common, at Bank Row and Main Street,
Greenfield, MA 01301

At both events, local officials, including Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan, will offer
opening remarks. In Athol, community partners, the North Quabbin Community Coalition, and
Valuing Our Children, will also provide remarks, and the children from the Athol YMCA preschool
will perform. In Greenfield, Mayor “Ginny” Desorgher will offer remarks, and the students from
Ja’Duke Performing Arts, in Turners Falls, will perform.

We welcome the attendance of the public and community members at the flag raisings to
stand together for the safety and protection of the children of Franklin County and North
Quabbin.

By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need, we can help
promote the social and emotional well-being of children and youth and help prevent child
maltreatment within families and communities. By offering training programs to teachers and
youth serving organizations and to children and youth, we can help identify sexual abuse,
grooming, and sextortion and better protect and arm children against online enticement that
grows ever prevalent. And by providing trauma-informed therapy to the children in our
community who have experienced physical or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, online
grooming or sextortion, we can help our community’s children heal and thrive.

Individuals who wish to help sustain our advocacy and prevention programs, and our vital mental
health services for sexually abused children are welcome to make a donation through our website.

For more information, contact Executive Director, Carol Conragan, Esq. at 413-253-6752 or at
cconragan@cacfranklinnq.org.