Child Abuse Prevention Month kicks off Published April 6, 2009 By Patty Odoardo Lakehurst Public Affairs LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Members of the Joint Base community came together to attend the signing of the Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation April 1 at Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, N.J. The proclamation calls attention to child abuse and child neglect in the Joint Base family. The Joint Base team is committed to the prevention of child abuse in all its forms and is dedicating the month to an increased emphasis on the prevention of child maltreatment with a special focus on child neglect. This year's theme for the campaign is Act Now - Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect. The proclamation calls on families and friends to step up and lend a hand to parents in need of support. John Clarke, NAES Lakehurst Fleet and Family Support Center individual deployment support specialist, served as master of ceremonies. The program included Dorothy Day who sang a beautiful rendition of "If I Could," followed by her husband, Master Sgt. Robert Day, Airman and Family Readiness Center readiness NCO, who provided his own personal story on facing life's challenges as a young boy growing up. Included in the signing of the proclamation was Col. Scott Smith, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, Col. Glenn Yap, 87th Medical Group commander, Lt. Col. William Ayers, Fort Dix vice commander, Capt. J.C. Harding, Lakehurst executive officer, David Rudnitsky, Division of Youth and Family Services Northern Ocean Unity director, Kathy Callaghan, Division of Youth and Family Services Ocean District director, both Division of Youth and Family Services, and Jennifer Bauer, Ocean County Providence House legal liaison. The event concluded with a special visit from the Easter bunny for the children. For more information on Family Advocacy programs, contact Fort Dix Advocacy at (609) 562-5200, Lakehurst Fleet and Family Support Center at (732) 323-1963, McGuire Family Advocacy at (609) 754-9680, an/or the Providence House at (732) 824-0599.