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Programs bring ‘invisible’ signs of child abuse to forefront
Published April 2, 2014 in the Ocala Star Banner. By April Warren A warm breeze swept across the grassy field outside West Marion Community Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, curling underneath the reflective petals of dozens of pinwheels and turning the green patch into a blur of blue shimmer. “We can feel the wind but we …
ReadWhat Comes to Mind When You Think of Child Abuse?
Published in the Lake Sentinel on April 6th. By Gail Burry When people think of child abuse what comes to mind first? Bruises? Broken arms? Or Worse? Of course, all of these instances are forms of child abuse, but they’re not what make up the majority of cases in today’s society. Unlike what may come …
ReadWill You Open Your Heart?
Open Your Heart … and your home to change lives forever. Not just the lives of others, but yours as well. That’s the message behind Open Your Heart, a Hernando County event aimed at recruiting foster and adoptive parents for Kids Central, Inc. Taking place at the First United Methodist Church of Spring Hill on …
ReadEnd Kids’ Tears: Plant a Pinwheel
The Florida Child Abuse hotline received 12,354 reports of child abuse in Circuit 5 during 2013. Over 4,000 children were verified victims of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment in Circuit 5 – Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties during 2013. Typically, child abuse and domestic violence occur behind closed doors making it a social ill …
ReadCommunity Member Donates to Independent Living Youth
In December Hannah Rios, Independent Living (IL) Supervisor was contacted by a community member inquiring about how he could help teens that have aged out of foster care. He understood IL and wanted to specifically assist those youth that were working on their college education. Three youth were identified who were first year college students …
ReadThe Loss of an Infant
The death of a child is tragic. The death of an infant in a preventable accident is even more tragic. Marion County has suffered another accidental suffocation death. According to Local6.com, a family member was holding the baby on her chest and fell asleep. During the night she rolled over on the baby and the …
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