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Children’s Expo & Public Safety Day

Brewster, NY, April 26, 2016—County Executive MaryEllen Odell is once again pleased to invite Putnam County residents to the Children’s Expo & Public Safety Day, on Saturday, May 14th from 11 to 3 at the County’s TOPS (Training and Operations) building on the Donald B. Smith Campus, 112 Old Route 6 in Carmel. Admission is free.

“Putnam County is a great place to live,” said Odell. “Our county is frequently cited as one of the best counties in the state to raise children and that’s because we are committed to keeping Putnam safe through the efforts of police, local government, social service agencies, private partnerships and extraordinary volunteer fire departments and service groups.”

This year, Putnam Hospital Center has joined long-time sponsors Eric Gross and Durant’s Party Rentals as an Expo sponsor. “Putnam Hospital is an integral part of this community,” said Odell. “As a leader in the health care industry, it recognizes the benefits of being proactive in protecting and promoting children’s health.”

“This event is about community, meeting and celebrating all the people and organizations who give so much of their time to serve children and families,” added Anthony Sutton, commissioner of the Bureau of Emergency Services. “We’re looking forward to showing residents the latest in Fire Prevention and Safety Services.”

The Children’s Expo is co-presented by the Child Advocacy Center of Putnam County (CAC) and the Bureau of Emergency Services of Putnam County. “It’s an easy way to educate families on health and safety issues, as well as the supports and services available to them in the community, all while having fun,” said Marla Behler, program coordinator of the CAC.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office will once again be offering Operation SAFE CHILD. Operation SAFE CHILD cards contain a child’s name, biographical information (date of birth, gender, height, weight, hair color, eye color, etc.), and a fingerprint image of both index fingers. The card is made in less than two minutes and can be easily carried in a wallet or purse.

This year’s event will also include Home Depot’s free Kids Workshops which offer fun and useful building projects. The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety while they help to instill a sense of accomplishment. In addition, more than 40 exhibitors will be on hand to offer a wide range of: activities for children (camps, theatre, martial arts, etc.,), programs including social media safety, medical, physical and mental health services, car seat checks, emergency services programs as well as live demonstrations (jaws of life and underwater rescue, tanks, fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, canine units and more).

This year’s entertainment features performances by nationally acclaimed Master Storyteller Jonathan Kruk, crowd favorite All About Animals, magician and balloon artist, Jocko, and DJ Ron Blanco. In addition there are games, a giant bouncy house, face-painting, raffles, food and lots of free giveaways!

“The CAC is dedicated to preventing child abuse and ensuring safety and treatment for abused children. By increasing the public’s knowledge, our hope is to promote safety and prevent tragedies,” said Behler. “The Children’s Expo & Public Safety Day, now celebrating its eleventh year, was organized with this objective which continues to be the primary goal of the event.”

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The Child Advocacy Center of Putnam County opened in 1999 to handle child abuse allegations in a coordinated way in order to minimize additional trauma to the young victims. A multidisciplinary team of child protective service workers, prosecutors, law enforcement investigators, medical care providers, victim advocates and therapists work together to provide all necessary services in one place. The CAC also provides education for the community to reduce the incidence of serious childhood injuries and death.

The Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services helps protect residents by operating the 911 Communications center. The Bureau is also host to Fire, EMS and Emergency Management training in the County. BES has a state of the art Emergency Operations Center where officials manage natural and man-made emergencies. BES also fields special teams to investigate cause and origins of fires, a Team to respond to Hazardous Materials Incidents, Fire Police to provide traffic control, security, and preserving evidence. There is also a Communications Team that uses specialized equipment to assure that County agencies and agencies providing mutual aid can speak on the same radio frequencies. The Bureau works closely with Senior Services, The Department of Health and the CAC to be a force multiplier in keeping Putnam safe.

April Is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month

Brewster, NY – April 11, 2016 – Every kid deserves a great childhood that’s carefree and full of promise. The Child Advocacy Center and Prevent Child Abuse New York “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign are using pinwheels to plant that message in Putnam County with the help of County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “Pinwheels are a happy and uplifting token of childhood. They are meant to convey that every child deserves the chance to be raised in a healthy, safe and nurturing environment,” said Odell. “Putnam County is a great place to raise a family. Join us as we plant a pinwheel garden to show that our community supports children.”

The Pinwheel Garden will be planted on Friday, April 15th from 1-4 p.m. in front of the Sybil Ludington Statue at Lake Gleneida on Route 6 in Carmel.
“The CAC has long advocated that education is imperative to preventing child abuse and continues to partner with local agencies to implement innovative programs to ensure the physical, mental, and emotional health and wellbeing of the children of Putnam County,” said CAC Program Coordinator Marla Behler. “As more prevention education programs become available, it is clear that people understand the importance of early and comprehensive prevention of abuse, not just responding to it after it occurs.”
According to Prevent Child Abuse America, research documents pervasive and long-lasting effects of child abuse and neglect on children, their families and society as a whole. Effective child abuse prevention programs ensure the health of children and families, allowing children to grow into adults who prosper and contribute to society.

The “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign is based on the belief that communities must be more proactive to prevent abuse. It’s not enough to simply respond to cases of abuse through prosecution and intervention—programs and policies that focus on child development, engage communities and create conditions that give parents the supports they need to succeed are essential. These programs and policies include strategies such as home visiting, parent education, mutual self-help support, mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment.
Among the tips provided by Prevent Child Abuse New York are acknowledging that parenting is a tough job. Reassure a parent coping with a difficult situation in public. Help amuse a restless child. Bea a good neighbor and get to know the families in your neighborhood and point out the special things they do for their children. For your own kids, be patient and really listen when they speak to you, and make it a priority to spend time with them, undistracted by work and the other demands on your time.
For more information on child abuse prevention programs call the Child Advocacy Center of Putnam County at (845) 808-1400 or Prevent Child Abuse New York at 1-800-CHILDREN.