Photos by Frank X. Moraga ©2019
Flagstaff, Coconino County proclamations, upcoming events in Williams and Flagstaff keep focus on child abuse prevention efforts
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
The always-moving Field of Hope Dedication put a poignant focus on annual Child Abuse Prevention Month efforts throughout Coconino County.
More than 50 local residents gathered for the ceremony presented by the Exchange Club of Flagstaff on Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Coconino County Courthouse lawn.
This year, the event paid tribute to the 79 children who died last year in Arizona from child abuse and neglect, with the hope the number will continue to decrease each year.
The 79 flags will be on display at the Coconino County Courthouse lawn will be on display through April 7.
Visit http://www.flagstaffexchangeclub.com/content/field-hope or http://www.flagstaffexchangeclub.com/content/contact-us for more information.
CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie holds the City of Flagstaff proclamation designating April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Child Abuse Prevention Month kicked off in April with the reading of the official proclamation by the City of Flagstaff at its regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2019.
The proclamation was presented to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie by members of the Flagstaff City Council and Mayor Coral Evans.
Following the presentation, supporters of the Coalition gathered for a group photo.
This is the second official recognition this year of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Members and guests of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth gather for a group photograph with members of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. The event recognization the county’s proclamation of April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors proclaimed April 2019 as Child Abuse Prevention Month during a ceremony held March 26, 2019 at the county’s First Floor Board Room.
Reading the proclamation was Watahomigie. Also in attendance were Coalition board members and supporters.
The evening presentation followed a morning session where Watahomigie provided supervisors with an update on the Coalition’s trauma initiatives countywide.
In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, a number of events are planned throughout Coconino County:
A Child Abuse Prevention Walk was held Thursday, April 4 at the Tuba City Fairgrounds in honor of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The event was presented by CPLC Parenting Arizona.
April 6 — The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth Field of Hope Williams ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6 at the Williams Pocket Park by the “Red Train Car,” next to the zipline at 200 N. Grand Canyon Blvd. A total of 79 Children lost their lives in Arizona last year due to maltreatment. With this ceremony we honor their lives. We also make a commitment as a community to prevent child abuse together. District 3 Supervisor Matt Ryan and Williams Mayor John Moore will speak. ***The Field of Hope will be up all April- we will move this ceremony indoors at the nearby rec center if the weather is poor. Make sure to wear blue on Friday 4/5/19 to show Williams’ support for Child Abuse Prevention month. Send an email to virginia@coconinokids.org for more information.
April 10 — CPLC Parenting Arizona will hold its next Child Abuse Prevention meeting on Wednesday, April 10 at the Tuba City Public Library, 78 Main St., Tuba City. “This will be great time to discuss any community events that will be happening in April,” said Ophelia Goatson, program supervisor for CPLA Parenting Arizona. “Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.” The CAP meeting will be held after the monthly Tuba City Networking Meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. Send an email to to ophelia.goatson@parentingaz.org or call 928-773-9133 for more information.
April 18 — Reservations have closed for the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth’s 2019 Child Abuse Prevention Conference and Luncheon from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at Little America Hotel, 2515 E. Butler Ave., Flagstaff. The event features keynote speaker Laura van Dernoot Lipsky of the Trauma Stewardship Institute, the presentation of the 2019 Caring for Children Awards to Elizabeth “Liz” Archuleta, Dani O’Connell, Joe Gutierrez, Shawni Parafiniuk, Jose Soto and Debbie Winlock; and the luncheon keynote discussion by Dr. Pearl Yellowman, executive director of the Navajo Nation Department of Community Development. Visit https://coconinokids.org/2019-annual-child-abuse-prevention-conference/ or send an email to virginia@coconinokids.org for more information.