CHILDREN SERVICES Banquet event to promote child safety

Congressman Ryan is the banquet's guest speaker.
WARREN -- Trumbull County Children Services' active caseload involves 1,005 children and 950 families.
According to statistics provided at Wednesday's board meeting, there were 185 new child abuse, neglect or dependency cases reported in February. There were 235 children in the agency's legal custody.
The agency has two key events planned in coming days to promote awareness of what it does.
Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m. at Eastwood Mall, foster dads from the agency will bring attention to its shaken-baby prevention campaign.
Monday, at noon at Aulizio's Catering and Banquet Center, 4395 Youngstown Road S.E., the agency will hold its annual Rising Up and Moving On recognition banquet.
The banquet honors children services' clients and families who have prevailed over adversity, and have worked as a team for the benefit of their children.
The first event at the mall will be at the community booth in the Target store concourse. It will feature brochures and information about child abuse and neglect, along with parenting tips.
The event also will spotlight local fathers nurturing and rocking their babies in rocking chairs, to emphasize the "never shake a baby" message.
Victims
National statistics show more than 60 percent of the victims of shaken baby syndrome are male, and 80 percent of the perpetrators are men, according to children services.
One in four infants die from such abuse; survivors may suffer permanent disabilities.
Children services' Father-to-Father group is spearheading the event and making efforts to get other men involved in the prevention of child abuse. For more information about the "Real Men Rock" campaign or child abuse and neglect prevention, contact Cynthia Mason, community education coordinator, (330) 372-2010, Ext. 1412.
The guest speaker at the Rising Up banquet will be U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.
Awards will be presented to four families: Larry and Lori Langley of Boardman, Richard Voorhis and Darlene Mariacher of Columbiana, Allan and Sandra Poe of Lordstown, and Charles and Amy Peddicord of Warren. Two youths also will be recognized, Cedrick and Jessica.
Service to Children awards will be presented to Joseph and Carla Dean, both teachers in the Niles schools; and Kevin D. Stringer, founder and president of the Korey Stringer Community Fund.
More than 300 community members are expected to attend the luncheon, representing public officials, businesses, volunteer groups, churches, social service agencies and other county agencies.