TROOPER RELAY EVENTS MARCH 24 & 25

APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION MONTH! Join the Maine Children's Trust, the Maine Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Councils and the Maine State Troopers at the Hall of Flags on Tuesday March 25th from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and hear the Governor proclaim April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. Come and meet the folks from your local council and see all of the wonderful things being done to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as strengthen families in Maine. At 1:30 PM, Maine State Troopers will arrive with puzzle pieces from around the state, which will form a blue ribbon, and illustrate how the many partners throughout Maine work together to support families. State leaders, including the Governor, and the Commissioners of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Safety, will also speak about the importance of prevention efforts. Prior to the event, here's what's happening in various areas around the state:

Androscoggin County:  Tuesday, March 25th at 8:30 AM.  Advocates for Children will have a breakfast with the local Trooper and kids from the all day Head Start program in  the B Street Community Center.   After breakfast a story about safety will be read and the kids will each get their own pinwheel coloring page as well as the chance to color on a few large pinwheels that will displayed in the building.

Aroostook County:  Early March 25th.  In partnership with the local state troopers, Aroostook Council for Healthy Families is sponsoring an event at the local Head Start where the trooper will read a story to the children and  talk to them about safety.  The Parenting Educator is doing a craft with the children and then the children are sending the trooper off with the puzzle piece.

Hancock County:  March 25th from 8:30 – 9:15 AM at the Downeast Family YMCA.  Families and community members are invited to join Downeast Health Services, children in the Down East Family YMCA child care, and Maine State Troopers for a rally celebrating prevention.  The children will plant a garden of “Pinwheels for Peace”, share a story, and provide refreshments for the prevention.  The children will also present the Troopers with a piece to a puzzle.  The puzzle, when assembled in Augusta, will form a blue ribbon – one symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention.

Kennebec/Somerset County:  Early March 25th.  KVCAP is having a light breakfast in the morning to which they have invited many of their community partners who have had a impact on the lives and safety of children. Among those invited are people from the Maine Children's Home, DHHS, HCI, Congressman Michael Michaud, State police and local police officers, as well as staff and people in the community. There will be activities with the children from the Head Start child care.  One of the children will hand the puzzle piece to the state trooper.

Knox County:  March 25th at 9:00 AM at the Thomaston barracks of the Maine State Police.  Speakers will include Lieutenant Gerard Madden, Commander of Troop D in Thomaston; Geoffrey Rushlau, Knox County District Attorney of Maine; Tina Fish, Supervisor with DHHS Child Protective Services; Wanda Johnson, Program Coordinator of the Knox Child Abuse and Neglect Council; and Mary Orear and Ann Jennings of the Mid-Coast Maine Trauma Informed Community Group.

Sagadahoc County:  March 25th from 9:30 to 10:15 AM and 10:15 to 11:00 AM at the Brunswick Head Start.  Families CAN! will be hosting Maine State Police Troop D, where children will make sturdy, colorful pinwheels that will be ready for the wind, hear the story “All by Myself” by Mercer Mayer and engage in a fun-filled self-esteem activity.  The children will thank the Trooper for being an important piece of their safety net puzzle and send him to Augusta to join Families CAN! educators at the Hall of Flags.

Washington County:  Monday, March 24th from 10:00 – 11:00 AM.  Washington County Community Agency will have a kickoff event at Downeast Community Hospital with a presentation of a puzzle piece to a state trooper.  Children will plant a pinwheel garden and prevention materials will be available.