April 2, 2018, Monday - Blue Kids Campaign Kick Off at Hennepin County Gov Center

Time: 10:00am

Location: Hennepin County Government Center, South Plaza, 300 S 6th Street (Rain location: skyway level)

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This year the Hennepin County Board declared April Child Abuse Prevention Month in Hennepin County as well. 

Last year in Hennepin County, there were more than 20,000 reports of child maltreatment. This represents a roughly 30 percent increase since 2016 and more than 85 percent increase since 2009. On any given day in the county, more than 50 children may be experiencing neglect and/or physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

CornerHouse Executive Director Patricia Harmon will join Hennepin County officials, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman and Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek to kick off the Blue Kids Campaign and to discuss and demonstrate how the community can work together to help prevent child abuse. As a backdrop for the press conference, CornerHouse will plant dozens of Blue Kids in the lawn of the South Plaza of the Hennepin County Government Center, to represent the thousands of kids abused in Minnesota each year.

Panelists include:

·         Marion Greene, Hennepin County Commissioner

·         Patricia Harmon, CornerHouse Executive Director

·         Rich Stanek, Hennepin County Sheriff

·         Jeffrey Beahen, Rogers Police Chief

·         Mike Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney