April is here, not sure where March went.  Is it just me or did it seem like just yesterday it was February?  

The month of April has been reserved as the Month of the Young Child in the State of Colorado; please join the many organizations working for the youth of our community by participating in the many upcoming events.  Children's House continues to collaborate with Montelores Early Childhood Council on the Children's Festival; scheduled for April 29th, 9am-2pm at Cortez Rec. Center. As with past fairs, we encourage your attendance and request interested parties to volunteer a bit of your time to ensure the success of this annual event.  Please keep an eye out in your email for volunteer sign up.  This year we are looking for runners, info. desk greeters, and guides for traffic flow.

April is also recognized nationally as Child Abuse Awareness Month; you can show your support by donning blue during the month of April and posting to your photo to your Instagram or Facebook Account (#ChildAbusePreventionMonth, #CO4Kids) "April was first declared Child Abuse Prevention Month by presidential proclamation in 1983. Since then, April has been a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse. In Child Maltreatment 2014 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau) it was reported that in FFY 2014 in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, an estimated 646,261 children were victims of child abuse or neglect; and 1,580 children died as a result of abuse or neglect. The majority of child abuse cases stemmed from situations and conditions that can be preventable when community programs and systems are engaged and supportive. A community that cares about early childhood development, parental support, and maternal mental health, for instance, is more likely to foster nurturing families and healthy children."  Locally Four Corners Advocacy Center works hard for the youngest members of our community by providing support to children and families, providing education to educators, youth partners and community leaders, and victim advocacy. Read Four Corners Advocacy Centers April Newsletter here.