Lorain County proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month; events and outreach planned

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month during its March 27 meeting.

Kristen Fox Berkey, executive director of Lorain County Children Services, and Chelsea Frueniates, executive director of the Children and Families First Council of Lorain County, described planned outreach: blue pinwheels placed at county locations; illumination of the old courthouse and Cascade Falls in blue; Wear Blue Day on April 8; a family event, "Ensure They Shine," on April 25 at North Rec Ice Arena in Elyria (11 a.m.–2 p.m., no registration required); and Blue Sunday on April 26, a faith-based day of prayer in partnership with Blessing House and Everlift Ministries of Education.

Berkey noted agency workload statistics presented at the meeting: in 2025 Lorain County Children Services received 5,466 reports of alleged child abuse and neglect; 1,805 of those reports were determined to warrant further investigation. The agencies asked residents to participate in outreach and to use county and council social channels for additional details.

The board indicated it would take a commemorative photo for publicity and thanked the agencies for their work. No formal funding decision or new program appropriation was announced at the meeting.