One in five people experience abuse before age 18; tell one person, and start the conversation today 

March 20, 2019

Port St. Lucie -

The gauntlet has been thrown; the challenge delivered - wear blue today, and help catapult CCKids to its rightful place as an awareness champion.

It's all in good fun, of course. CCKids has challenged the Circuit 19 Guardian ad Litem program and all four Child Placing Agencies to wear the most blue in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Each organization has posted a challenge on their individual Facebook page today and asked followers to take pictures of themselves donning prevention blue and post to comments.

The organization with the most engagement - pictures, comments or reactions to the original post - wins.

The challenge is actually part of an on-going, collaborative project designed to bust foster-care myths and encourage more people to become foster parents or Guardians.

A different myth is busted each month on social media. This month's myth is "It doesn't happen here."

"That really dovetailed nicely with our plans for Child Abuse Prevention Month," said Christina Kaiser, CCKids Community Relations Director.

Those plans include participation in the statewide MANicure Movement, which will be launched during a special nail-polishing event at the St. Lucie County Fire District, April 10.

Festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a special photo opportunity with Fire Chief Nate Spera, St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara, Fort Pierce Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney and Port. St. Lucie Police Chief John Bolduc.

The statewide movement began three years ago in Orlando to spark community-wide conversations about ways to stop violence against children and to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

This is the first year the movement has come to Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast.

“We want people to know that child abuse is happening right here, in our community, and we want nothing more than for it to end,” CCKids CEO Carol Deloach said. “One in five children experience some sort of abuse before the age of 18.”

Indeed, more than 1,000 children currently are in the local child-welfare system, and more than 700 of those children live out of home due to abuse or neglect.

Stop by the fire district anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to learn more about child-abuse prevention and for a special “MANicure.”

“We are focusing on men because painting one nail is an attention getter, and we think it will start a lot of conversations,” Kaiser said.

The event will include free nail paintings for both men and women, a photo booth, information about foster care, the Guardian ad Litem program and other ways to get involved.

Community groups and businesses also can participate in the initiative, Kaiser said.

“We will have manicure kits with us for any businesses or groups that want to organize their own MANicure event,” she said.