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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital will commemorate the start of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month at a joint press conference at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, at the HSHS St. John’s Hospital Pavilion, 301 N. 8th St., Springfield. This event is open to the public.
Weather permitting, attendees will gather on the lawn in front of the Pavilion following the presentation to plant blue pinwheels, one of the national symbols of child abuse prevention.
Speakers at the event will include Maria Miller, MSW, Chief Deputy Director, Child Protection and State Central Register, Illinois DCFS; Tarra Winters, Executive Director, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois; Misty Buscher, Mayor of Springfield; and Chad Markham, HSHS St. John’s Hospital Interim President and CEO and HSHS Central Illinois Market Chief Operations Officer.
“This year’s theme, Powered by Hope, Strengthened by Prevention, emphasizes the importance of prevention efforts that support families, strengthen communities, and ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Winters. “By investing in prevention, we not only protect children, but also provide families with the strength and resilience to overcome challenges. When families thrive, communities thrive. It is through prevention that we can ensure a bright future for generations to come.”
“This year’s theme goes hand-in-hand with our department’s vision: for every child and youth to grow and thrive in a family,” said Heidi E. Mueller, Director, Illinois DCFS. “We know that when parents are supported, their families are stronger and safer – and we also know that children do better when they are able to remain at home safely. In 2024, we served 4,034 families through our family preservation programs, enabling them to stay together. DCFS also connected parents to counseling, substance abuse recovery, mental health, Family Advocacy Centers and other services so 5,374 children could return home. By working together with our community partners and connecting families to the services and programs that meet their unique needs, DCFS continues to strengthen and support families.”
“At St. John’s Children’s Hospital, our mission goes beyond caring for kids within our walls – we are dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of every child,” said Markham. “We stand united with organizations like Prevent Child Abuse Illinois and DCFS to heal, protect and prevent harm to our community’s children to ensure a safe and healthy future.”
Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed each April since its first presidential proclamation in 1983. Since that time, millions of Americans have participated in this national campaign. Individuals, organizations and communities across the United States plant pinwheels, tie ribbons, organize trainings, host fundraisers and support a multitude of other activities celebrating healthy, happy childhoods and raising awareness that all children deserve to grow up in nurturing, safe homes.
This event will be livestreamed on Prevent Child Abuse Illinois’ Facebook page at facebook.com/preventchildabuseillinois. For additional resources, visit preventchildabuseillinois.org.
