LAUDERHILL — Noting a rise in incidences of child abuse and neglect  which it attributes in large part to bad economic conditions and the stresses associated with them, a broad-based community partnership has launched a four-month campaign to garner more resources and promote additional activities to target the problem.

The Children’s Services Council of Broward County (CSC) launched the campaign, “Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children,” on Monday at a press conference.

The event featured Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness and Lauren Book, founder of Lauren’s Kids, an organization devoted to preventing sexual abuse of children through building awareness, and healing survivors.

The campaign is part of a wider initiative now in its second year calling attention to child abuse and neglect on the premise that families deserve to live in communities with resources and information that provide safe and healthy experiences for all children, making it possible for them to safely realize their full potential, hopes and dreams.

Besides CSC, Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children partners include the Department of Children and Families, the Broward Sheriff’s Office,  ChildNet, Broward County Health Department, Broward Healthy Start Coalition, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, Healthy Families, Broward County Schools, Broward County Sexual Assault Treatment Center, Broward County Human Trafficking Coalition, Consolidated Credit Counseling, The Humanity Project, Hands On Broward, Children’s Home Society, 211 Broward, ARC Broward, Guardian ad Litem, Chrysalis Center, Starting Place, A Child Is Missing, YMCA, Kids In Distress, FLIPANY, and the Ounce of Prevention Fund.


For information, visit 211-broward.org

Photo: ANDREW LEONE/CSC

CHILD PROTECTORS:  Those taking part in a press conference to announce the launch of a campaign, “Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children,”on Monday, included, from left, Larry Rein, vice president of Community Development, ChildNet; Lauren Book, child advocate and author; Dr. Alexis Brimberry, director of Community Outreach, A Child Is Missing; Kim Gorsuch, DCF Circuit Community Development administrator; Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, president/CEO, Children’s Services Council of Broward County.