Eckerd to Receive Proclamation from Pasco County Board of County Commissions

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - March 21, 2016 - PRLog -- On Tuesday, March 29 at 1:00 pm, the Pasco County BOCC will present Eckerd Kids with a proclamation in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which kicks off April 1.

During the month of April, 2016, the Prevent Child Abuse Florida campaign, in collaboration with the Florida Department of Children and Families, will engage communities throughout the State of Florida in a coordinated effort to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting awareness of healthy child development, positive parenting practices and the types of concrete support families need within their communities.

Pinellas based Eckerd Community Alternatives, the agency that oversees the foster care system in Pasco and Pinellas Counties was asked by the Sixth Judicial Circuit to write a five year plan to reduce child abuse for use by the courts.  The plan includes a strategy that addresses preventable child deaths and specifically focuses on three main areas: (1) unsafe infant sleep practices; (2) drowning prevention; and (3) inflicted head trauma. This plan's goal is to raise awareness of preventable child deaths throughout the state and to gain momentum and create awareness in Pasco County as well as encourage Pasco County residents to engage in activities that help to strengthen and educate families in our community.

In May of 2015, Eckerd kicked off a groundbreaking campaign to eliminate preventable child deaths in the Tampa Bay area along with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Children's Board of Hillsborough County.

The collaborative Warning Signs campaign incorporates stark "warning" labels in a context not usually associated with danger to a child to shift thinking about the topic of preventable deaths. The multi-year campaign is reaching all levels of the community to practice and share proven lifesaving safety techniques about water safety, responsible caregivers and safe sleep.

Across Tampa Bay, 41 children under age 6 died last year from three causes that are 100 percent preventable:  drowning, abusive head trauma (also known as "Shaken Baby Syndrome") and unsafe sleep practices (co-sleeping).

You can visit preventneedlessdeaths.com to learn more about the campaign.

WHAT:          National Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation

WHEN:          Tuesday March 29, 2016 1:00 - 3:30 pm

WHERE:       8731 Citizens Dr. New Port Richey, FL  34654

WHO:          West Pasco BOCC to Present Eckerd Kids with a proclamation in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month

About Eckerd Kids:

Eckerd Kids is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, that has given much-needed second chances to more than 168,000 children and families since its founding by Jack and Ruth Eckerd in 1968.  Eckerd Kids serves over 18,500 children and their families each year through life-changing child welfare, juvenile justice and behavioral health programs in eight states.  Eckerd's mission is to provide and share solutions that promote the well-being of children and families in need of a second chance.  To learn more visit www.eckerd.org. Follow us on Twitter at @eckerdyouth and Instagram at Eckerd Kids, and "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/eckerdyouth.