Two Rivers’ Green Bear program addresses child abuse prevention

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about how individuals and communities can prevent child abuse. 

Two Rivers Child Advocacy Center’s, CAC, Green Bear Prevention Program is on the frontlines of preventing child abuse in Southern Illinois. 

This month, Two Rivers CAC is bringing the Green Bear Prevention Program to over 1,000 children in five schools. 

The schools where the program is being presented include New Simpson Hill District 32, Joppa Junior/Senior High School, Maple Grove Elementary School, Egyptian Elementary School in Tamms and Century School District 100 in Ullin. 

Two Rivers CAC also plans to have a Child Abuse Prevention Community Conversation at Connect Point Church in Anna from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 23.

The event is open to all adults and will offer an opportunity to learn about child sexual abuse, how to prevent it and to ask questions.

Since August 2015, Two Rivers’ Green Bear Prevention Program has served 3,000 school-aged children in the southernmost seven counties in Illinois. 

The Green Bear Prevention Program is an age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention program.

The program is free to schools, churches, community organizations and mandated reporters in Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union counties. 

Children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are taught what abuse is, how to report abuse, who to report abuse to, feelings about abuse, abduction prevention, internet safety and safe dating practices, all in a developmentally aware framework. 

Community members and mandated reporters are taught how to recognize signs of child sexual abuse and how to report suspected abuse. 

The Green Bear Prevention Program continues to grow each year as more schools and community organizations request presentations.

“Education is key to child abuse prevention and this free programming is an invaluable resource to Southern Illinois,” Two Rivers CAC executive director Jordan Edmonds said.

“We now know that child abuse causes serious harm to brain development and has long-lasting effects well into adulthood, leading to lifelong difficulties. 

“Two Rivers sees this prevention program as an investment in our children’s futures and the long-term health of our communities.”

Two Rivers CAC has provided services to abused children in Southern Illinois since August 2001. 

Two Rivers CAC’s mission is to lessen the trauma children endure after disclosing abuse. This is accomplished by using a child focused multi-disciplinary team approach in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse.

To learn more about preventing child abuse, or  to schedule a prevention program, call 833-7470, visit the center’s website at tworiverscac.org or visit the center’s Facebook page at facebook.com/tworiverscac. 

Those who may have concerns that a child is being abused can call the Child Abuse Prevention Hotline at 1-800-25 ABUSE (1-800-252-2873).