A trend that can be prevented; Montgomery Co. Prosecutor office launches child safety campaigns

DAYTON — April is child abuse awareness month, and Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck is launching a campaign to encourage you to report suspected child abuse.

However, that is not the only concerning trend Heck is seeing when it comes to children.

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News Center 7′s Xavier Hershovitz spoke with Heck Tuesday about why he is also launching a safe sleep campaign.

When driving around town, you may have seen pinwheels. Those pinwheels are just one of many efforts to raise awareness around child abuse.

“When they suspect child abuse, when they see child abuse. They have to do something. They have to report it,” Heck message he wanted to share.

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This is just one of the messages Heck wants people to remember.

“Child abuse is a problem in our community but one we can prevent,” Heck said.

Last year there were 115 cases of felony child abuse reviewed by the prosecutor’s office. Although that is a high number, it is not the highest Heck has seen.

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“The number of reports remains unacceptable high,” Heck said.

That is not the only number Heck says is unacceptable. Each time there is an infant death, his office receives a report.

“It tears your heart out to get those reports. The numbers that I’m seeing this year— to me— are shocking,” Heck said.

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Although he could not give an exact number, it was enough for the prosecutor’s office to launch a safe sleep campaign alongside their child abuse prevention campaign.

‘There are simply too many babies dying needlessly in our community,” Heck said.

Billboards will start to pop up around Montgomery County. One of the billboards lays out the A-B-C’s of safe sleep: alone, on their back, and in an empty crib. Another billboard gives the hotline number to report child abuse anonymously, 224-KIDS.

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“That is the only way we know about child abuse— if people report it,” Heck said.

Heck has also partnered with community organizations to donate roughly 150 car and booster seats for parents in need.

“There’s no reason that children should suffer just because someone is unable to afford a car seat. They shouldn’t be embarrassed; we’re going to help them get it,” Heck said.

Remember, if you see something, say something.

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