Arkansas First Lady to Help Honor Child Protection Advocate and Prosecutor
Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) April 15, 2015 -- April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Awareness Month and, in Arkansas, the state’s most ardent teams of law enforcement agents, child physical and mental care providers, child welfare and safety case workers and agencies, and child protection law makers, will join First Lady Susan Hutchinson in honoring this year’s Senator Percy Malone Child Protection Award recipient, Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue. The First Lady will be the guest speaker at the luncheon ceremony, to be held April 22, at the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library. The Governor’s office has also issued a proclamation declaring April 2015 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.
The Malone award, inspired by its namesake who aggressively and successfully pursued legislation in Arkansas, and raised awareness of child abuse issues throughout the state in order to protect all children, is awarded upon recommendations from this vast attending group focused on child safety. This year’s recipient is the Prosecuting Attorney for Arkansas’ 12th Judicial District and is being honored for working both professionally, and personally, to protect and offer services to abused children and to prosecute those who hurt them.
“The welfare and protection of children has always been a focus for me,” said First Lady Hutchinson. “I sat on the board of one of the hosting agencies that works with sexually abused children and I can say that was a profound and alarming learning experience acknowledging the rate of abuse and the immense need for child protection. Prosecutor Shue is not only helping address this harsh reality in his official state capacity in the courtroom but also as a private citizen through his own support and participation in the organizations that offer care and protection for our kids who have been hurt.”
Child focused agencies within the state, and sponsoring the yearly award event include; Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), UAMS-Psychiatric Research Institute, and the Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence.
The need and mission for these organizations is evident based upon the most current data provided by the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children’s Division. Their Child Abuse Hot Line operators, in 2012, received 62,052 telephone calls with reports of abuse or neglect. Those accepted as legally valid allegations of child abuse or neglect and assigned for investigation totaled 38,368. This was in the state of Arkansas alone.
Photo identifications: Arkansas First Lady Susan Hutchinson. Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue.
Susie Cover, Crown Public Relations-Susie Cover, +1 (870) 919-7235, [email protected]
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