The Pike Regional Child Advocacy/ Family Resource Center will kick off Child Abuse Awareness Month with the mayors’ signing of a proclamation declaring the Month of April Child Abuse Awareness Month in Troy and Pike County at 1 p.m. on Monday.

The public is invited.

The featured speakers for the program will be Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., chancellor of the Troy University System, and Janie Wiggins, physical education teacher and girls’ varsity coach at Kinston High School.

“Dr. Hawkins and Troy University have been strong supporters of the CAC since it opened in 2006,” said Alice Arnold, CAC administrative assistant and CAPPS director. “Jamie Wiggins is also a dedicated supporter of child abuse prevention. We appreciate their support and are honored to have them.”

Following the proclamation signing and program, the CAC has planned a Sun Day family event.

“We’ll have a large inflatable and games for the children and hotdogs for everyone,” Arnold said. “We invite families to come to the CAC and enjoy a fun afternoon in the sun together. The Sun Day is free and will end around 5 p.m.”

To heighten community awareness of child abuse prevention and to raise funds for its programs, the CAC is selling blue bows, which are the national symbol of child abuse prevention, to be displayed on mailboxes or on doors throughout April, and Child Abuse Awareness T-shirts. The bows are $10 and the T-shirts are $12 and may be purchased by calling the CAC at 334-670-0487.

To bring greater awareness of child abuse to young children, the Pike Regional Child Advocacy/Family Resource Center sponsors an annual coin collection contest and poster contest with elementary schools throughout the county invited to participate.

“Participating classrooms have a container where the students can donate their change to help fight child abuse,” Arnold said.

“The class that collects the most money in each category gets a pizza party. Participation is usually very good.”

The judges in the Child Abuse Prevention Poster Contest have announced the winners.

The winners at Troy Elementary School in grades K-2 are Allen Lamicheon, first; Hannah Sparrow, second: Nykiyah Youngblood, third; and Stephon Mosley, fourth. Winners in grades three through five are Niky Li, first; Madison Johnson, second; Loftin Worthington, third; and Taylor Norton, fourth.

Winners at Goshen Elementary School are, K-2, Demarcus Sankey, first; Zachary Tull, second; Sarah Arthur, third; and Ella Tatom, fourth. In grades three through six the winners, are Marshall McQuagge, first; Hunter Shaver, second; Rodarius Christian, third; and Slade Outlaw, fourth.

At Pike County Elementary School, the winners in grades four through six, are Andrew Shiver, first; Mauro Juarez, second; Amyah Baker, third; and Atiana Jones, fourth.

The winners at Banks Primary are Jaymie Duncan, first; Weston Brown, second; Madison Walker, third; and Emma Earles, fourth.

Pike Liberal Arts School was on spring break this week so its entries will be judged in April.

“The CAC will have activities and events throughout April to raise awareness of child abuse and to raise funds for the prevention programs offered through the CAC,” Arnold said.