The Study, an educational private institution, in Soldotna painted the snow bank blue in front of the facility for “Go Blue Day,” an awareness event associated with April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month on Friday March 31st.
Abby Struffert with South Central Alliance for Family Resilience explains the event;
“April is child abuse prevention month, but to kick that off there is a nationally recognized day which is go blue day March 31st and here at the study we went full on painted the snowbank blue put up a big sign that’s going to get a lot of eyes on it as they’re driving down Kobuk and we’re just trying to make a statement that this needs to end it’s happening all around us and it’s time to talk about it.”
South Central Alliance for Family Resilience is focused on educating the central Kenai Peninsula communities on PACEs, with an extra emphasis on resilience and protective factors. They are working toward a more trauma-informed, resilient community by leading the effort to integrate trauma-informed + resiliency training(s), support, and resources to all.
Struffert explains the South Central Alliance for Family Resilience;
“So, there is a lot of resources, one is the alliance that I lead here locally called South Central alliance for family resilience and really our focus is to reduce adverse childhood experiences and create and cultivate opportunities for positive experiences because we all know that those positive experiences especially in a young ones life combat the adversities.”
Struffert outlines upcoming events during the month of April provided by the Alaska’s Children’s Trust;
“So, statewide there’s some opportunities Alaska Children’s Trust has put on four different opportunities that can be attended virtually. So, on April 6th there is a keeping kids safe on the Internet course offered, on April 12th there’s a circle of security which is a little bit more for the parents it’s like a parenting educational program. And then there is also on April 19th we have a course that’s being offered here in our state by some experts on how to prevent sexual abuse of our children. And then finally we have on April 28th healthy outcomes from positive experiences and all of those webinars and virtual opportunities can be found on Alaska children’s trust.org website.”
To register and find out more about the online trainings, click here.
To continue the movement on the Kenai, there will be a town hall at the Peninsula Center Mall on Saturday June 3rd, Struffert explains;
“So, raising awareness is part of it but, really that action is the next step and what’s going to really move the marble with child abuse prevention here. So, I’m asking everyone in our community has a role in this and so we’re really trying to direct people to an opportunity in June on June 3rd it’s going to be a town hall and a Family Day and we will be unveiling some data from a community needs assessment that closed on January 31st we had over 800 people respond to that assessment and we’re looking at the accessibility the affordability and the user friendliness to 10 vital services here in our community.”
The town hall will begin at noon on Saturday, June 3rd, with a free obstacle course hosted by River City Cheer, followed by the meeting at 3. Food and child care will be available.
