SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N,C. -- In April, the 4th Fighter Wing will observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This observance serves as a time to promote how working together can provide a healthy and safe environment for every child in the community.

Wing leadership and community members will join Goldsboro residents to recognize the observance during the annual Mayoral Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation Ceremony. The ceremony will be held April 3 at 11 a.m. on the steps of city hall.

"Children are our most precious resource, and this month places emphasis on recognition and prevention of future incidents," said Jerome Ellis, 4th FW Family Advocacy outreach manager. "As a community we must acknowledge that child abuse prevention needs to occur 365 days of the year."

The designated theme for this year's observation is "Cherishing Our Children ... Affirming Our Families." Throughout the month, members of the Seymour Johnson community will band together with the Wayne County For Children Council to promote healthy children, families and communities.

"The observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month gives each of us individually and all of us together the opportunity to promote the best for an optimal childhood," Ellis said. "Supporting the personal development, health, wellness and well-being of our children, youth and teens, is imperative to the strength and stability of healthy communities."

Child Abuse Prevention Month initiatives promote consistent messages for advocacy, education and action. This is achieved through Family Advocacy Program education, training, family information fairs, clinical intervention activities, prevention initiatives, consultations and briefings, according to Ellis.

"It is our duty to do all that we can do to support the well-being of children, youth and teens," he said. "Child abuse prevention is everybody's business. If someone suspects abuse they should report it, all reports are anonymous. Unfortunately, some children are not able to speak for themselves. Do not confront the perpetrator unless you are concerned with immediate danger to the child. Report your suspicions to a supervisor, security forces, Child Protective Services or the Family Advocacy office. Family Advocacy or Child Protective Services will decide if the allegations fit the criteria for abuse."

The North Carolina Child Abuse Reporting law details child abuse into four categories: physical abuse, emotional abuse, child neglect and sexual abuse. The law applies to any juvenile younger than 18 and specifies that the abuser can be a parent, guardian, custodian or caretaker. Signs of physical abuse include bruises or welts on the body or face, burns, fractures, lacerations, and even human bite marks. Signs and symptoms of emotional child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse might include hostile or aggressive behavior, poor conduct in school, withdrawal from others or signs of depression, and children who easily go along with the wishes or ideas of others and crave attention from adults. While these symptoms don't always indicate abuse or neglect, anyone noticing such behaviors in children should be concerned.

"I often refer to child abuse as an 'equal opportunity crime,'" Ellis said. "The message we try to deliver is 'If you suspect it, report it ... your efforts may save a child's life.' Child abuse can occur in any family home, regardless of the parent's age, gender, race, rank or income level. Our goal is to assist parents of our youth in making better choices and finding alternate ways of managing the many risk factors that may be associated with parenting. My philosophy is 'We don't have bad parents at Seymour Johnson, we just have parents who sometimes make bad choices.'"

The Family Advocacy office is hosting a variety of events throughout the month to increase awareness of child abuse and the importance of incident reporting.

During the proclamation ceremony, the base honor guard will assist with the raising of the Child Abuse Prevention Month Flag, which will fly over the city through April in honor of affected children. In addition, the vice wing commander, Col. Gabriel Green, will speak at the event.

The Family Advocacy office will collaborate with the youth and child development centers for the first time hosting the Month of the Military Child Information Fair here April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be children's games, face painting, bouncy castles, static displays and more. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on educating parents on the safety and responsibilities associated with parenting military children.

For more information about child abuse awareness and prevention, contact Ellis at 722-1878.