The canal in downtown Indianapolis will turn blue April 25 to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“Every child deserves a happy, safe childhood,” said Heather Wildrick-Holman, the assistant director at Firefly Children & Family Alliance, a local nonprofit helping families create healthy dynamics. “We’re also here to support parents struggling with challenges.”
The group will join the Indiana Department of Child Services to dye the canal blue at 11:30 a.m. Friday. The color represents the national movement to prevent child abuse, which affected more than 18,000 victims in Indiana in 2023 alone — a statistic from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ latest child maltreatment report.
Participants should meet at the Indianapolis Central Canal, 429 W. Ohio St. They will hear from DCS Director Adam Krupp and Tina Cloer, Firefly’s president.
Firefly works to protect against child abuse by providing community members with education and resources. The organization uses a public health model that focuses on fostering resilience and support systems and teaching parents about childhood development and social-emotional learning.
Wildrick-Holman said a key part of this work is preventing the need for DCS involvement. The state agency investigates reports of child abuse and neglect and places children in foster care or adoption programs.
“We’re the precursor to intervention,” Wildrick-Holman told Mirror Indy. “Ideally, we’re getting involved so the families can get the services they need and hopefully never have to engage in those systems.”
The organization offers a children’s shelter, family reunification services, substance abuse treatment, counseling for sexual assault and education about the signs of child abuse. Staff members are also mandatory reporters of suspected neglect or child abuse.
How to contact Firefly
You can reach Firefly by calling 317-264-2700 or attending monthly events, including tours and meet and greets with staff.
Mirror Indy reporter Mary Claire Molloy covers health. Reach her at 317-721-7648 or email maryclaire.molloy@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @mcmolloy7.
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