My Platform - Prevention of Child Abuse

I am pleased to be able to work with the organization entitled PREVENT CHILD ABUSE VIRGINIA (www.preventchildabuseva.org) during my year as Mrs. Virginia International. My goal is to help raise awareness about this crime against the children of Virginia who are too young to have a public voice. I also plan to raise money for this statewide, nonprofit organization. PCAV serves individual families and organizations that work with families in the following ways: 1. Direct service programs 2. Educational opportunities for individuals, families, and professionals 3. Serving as advocates for children and families PCAV is a member of "National Circle of Parents" and the "Virginia Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America/Healthy Families America". Their mission is "to prevent the abuse and neglect of our Commonwealth's children". I feel very strongly about child abuse. My husband and I have three children of our own. The thought that anyone could abuse our children or any other child is abhorrent to me. I want to raise the awareness that abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal. I believe that children are our country's future, and we as adults must protect them. It is our responsibility to nurture them and guide them to becoming confident, loving citizens of our Commonwealth. Anything that is done to them that might alter their mindset, hurt them in anyway or even possibly kill them should not be accepted by anyone. The Hampton roads area of Virginia ranks the highest in child abuse cases, teen pregnancy, and infant mortality (www.vakids.org/work/kcdata.htm). This is a fact that I hope you feel as strongly about as I do. It is my sincere desire that we can come together as a community to change these dire statistics. I pledge that my year as Mrs. Va. International will be spent bringing child abuse to the forefront of public awareness. I also hope that I can count on you, the citizens of Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth of Virginia to help me raise money for PCAV. Together we can do anything. Our children deserve it.