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Free Child Abuse Prevention Cafe In Bloomington Thursday

Last updated on Tuesday, April 24, 2012

(BLOOMINGTON) - Nearly a third (32.1%) of youth ages 14 to 17 have experienced maltreatment during their lifetime and 34.6% have witnessed family violence, according to a 2009 study by the Crimes Against Children Research Center at University of New Hampshire.

As April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) is hosting a Youth Worker Cafe Thursday in Bloomington to discuss this topic. The workshop will feature Mary Armstrong-Smith, Community Partners Director with Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, and Emily Perry, Executive Director of Susie's Place Child Advocacy Center.

The cafe will take place on April 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, 2700 E. Rogers Rd., Bloomington, 47401. As part of IYIs Youth Worker Cafe program, lunch will be provided for free.

The event is open to youth workers, parents, community leaders, youth ministers, educators, counselors, others working to impact the well-being of local youth and those interested in this topic. The event also will include time for networking with other youth workers in attendance and the chance to learn about other organizations and resources for youth in and around Monroe County.

If you would like to attend this free event, please RSVP by noon on April 24 to Matt Wysocki at mwysocki@chamberbloomington.org. For more information about the Youth Worker Cafe, contact Joe Shrode, IYI's southwest Indiana field representative, at jshrode@iyi.org or 866-426-6558.

Mary Armstrong-Smith serves as the Community Partners Director for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana (a division of The Villages). In partnership with more than 600 volunteers, Mary works to bring the message of primary prevention to communities throughout Indiana.

Emily Perry is the founder and Executive Director of Susie's Place Child Advocacy Center. Emily has dedicated her career to incorporating best practices into investigating allegations of crimes against children with an emphasis on creating innovative interventions that reduce the risk of re-traumatizing children.

Youth Worker Cafes are designed to bring together local youth workers to build relationships and inspire collaborations that will benefit kids. This Youth Worker Cafe is made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Asset Building Coalition of Monroe County and IYI.

The Indiana Youth Institute promotes the healthy development of Indiana children and youth by serving the people, institutions and communities of Indiana that impact their well-being.

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