April will be a blue ribbon month for the children of Butler County.

In recognition of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Butler County Children's Advocacy Center will be conducting its second annual Blue Ribbon Campaign in an effort to increase awareness of the problem of child abuse.

Center Director Edith Williams said the blue ribbon campaign is a fund-raising effort for the center than helps promote community awareness by selling blue bows to be displayed on the doors of area homes and businesses throughout the month of April.

She said anyone wishing to show support for this cause can buy a bow for a minimum donation of $10.

Williams also introduced Gloria Robinson as the new education coordinator for the center. She said Robinson will be working in area schools on behalf of the center to teach child abuse awareness and prevention to students starting in kindergarten.

"We hope the program will teach younger children how to identify signs of child abuse early so they won't become victims later," she said.

Robinson said she was happy to be a part of the center and looked forward to working with parents and educators in the area.

"Everyone at the Butler County Children's Advocacy Center has made me feel welcome," she said. "I know I will enjoy my stay at the center."

Robinson said she will be visiting the schools in the area on April 17 to pass out bookmarks and blue ribbons to students to wear for the week. She said she urges area schools, businesses and individuals to support the blue ribbon campaign and the children of Butler County.

"Remember, it shouldn't hurt to be a child," she said.

The Children's Advocacy Center is a county-funded agency with the goal of providing a place where children who are victims of abuse, and their parents, can go to receive counseling, therapy and help. It also provides a location for representatives from all agencies involved in abuse cases to come together to asses the needs of a victim

and to coordinate efforts.