“Cardboard Kids” and the color blue will be a common sight throughout Joint Base San Antonio in April as the installation observes National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
A variety of events – culminating in the citywide United Way Kids Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29 at San Antonio’s Lockwood Park, 801 N. Olive St. – will draw attention to the specter of child abuse, which impacts nearly 700,000 children in the United States annually, according to the National Children’s Alliance.
“Our theme this year is ‘Building Communities, Building Hope, Building Healthy Families,’” said Gina Ramirez, JBSA-Randolph outreach/resiliency coordinator. “The events we have planned will raise awareness of child abuse and inform the JBSA community about the Air Force Family Advocacy Program’s efforts to prevent and treat family violence.”
The Cardboard Kids will make their first appearance April 6 at JBSA locations, including a special daylong event at JBSA-Randolph, where the 2-foot-tall cardboard figures representing victims of child abuse will be displayed on the median separating the inbound and outbound lanes of Harmon Drive.
The Cardboard Kids Campaign was created by ChildSafe, a Bexar County trauma-focused care center for child victims and child survivors of abuse and neglect.
Decorated by children at JBSA’s child development programs and youth centers and by chapel youth groups, the Cardboard Kids will also be displayed at places such as the exchanges, commissaries and banks throughout the month.
“Wear Blue Day,” also scheduled April 6 at JBSA, is another significant day during Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
“Blue is the color for child abuse awareness, so wearing blue that day is just in support of child abuse prevention and awareness,” said Norma Leal, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Family Advocacy Program outreach manager.
Family-oriented events at JBSA kicked off April 1 with the Celebrate Kids festival at the JBSA-Lackland Youth Center. Upcoming events are the Baseball Opening Day and Month of the Military Child Celebration from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 8 at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston’s Dodd Field Youth Sports Complex and Famaganza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 8 at the JBSA-Randolph Youth Center.
Other events will include story times at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Randolph libraries, Shaken Baby Syndrome and the Period of Purple Crying training from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 at JBSA-Randolph’s Child Development Program Annex and Stewards of Children training from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 27 at the JBSA-Randolph Medical Clinic’s 359th Medical Operations Squadron conference room. Stewards of Child training teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.
Representatives of JBSA’s Family Advocacy Program offices will provide information about child abuse and child abuse prevention during the month’s activities, including the citywide United Way Kids Festival, a free event featuring more than 65 booths with information and children’s activities.
The Family Advocacy Program offers parenting classes, awareness events, anger and stress management classes, the New Parent Support Program and car seat inspections, Ramirez said. Other resources include chaplain offices, mental health services, Military Family Life Counselors and Military OneSource.
The Family Advocacy Program and other Department of Defense resources play an important role in preventing child abuse and promoting healthy families, she said.
“The Family Advocacy Program supports mission readiness and retention through the prevention and treatment of family violence,” Ramirez said. “The goal of the program is to promote readiness and family wellness by enhancing the health, welfare and morale of active-duty service members and their families.”