Community members gather for the 2016 Ready, Set, Unite! Walk for Child Abuse Prevention to show their commitment to protecting children in East Tennessee.

KNOXVILLE — The Helen Ross McNabb Center will host a free community prevention walk during Child Abuse Prevention Month on Friday, April 7 at Market Square, located in downtown Knoxville, from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

A community information fair will begin at 3 p.m. with an opportunity to gather information about child abuse prevention and Helen Ross McNabb Center’s services as well as the opportunity to enjoy festive, family-friendly activities such as face painting. Mona Blanton-Kitts, vice president of clinical services at the Helen Ross McNabb Center, will begin the prevention walk at 3:30 p.m. with a short program on the stage located in Market Square. An inspiring story will be shared about overcoming child abuse, and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett will present a proclamation. Then, the Ready, Set, Unite! Walk for Child Abuse Prevention will begin around Market Square.

Attendees are encouraged to wear royal blue, the designated color of child abuse prevention, and will be given pinwheels, which are considered the symbol of hope for children impacted by abuse. The event is intended to unite the community in support of child abuse prevention and demonstrate a commitment to protecting children in East Tennessee. There is no registration required for this free event, and everyone is invited to attend.

“We love uniting our community each April to recognize our county’s commitment to East Tennessee’s children. The Helen Ross McNabb Center and our partner agencies demonstrate child abuse prevention through our work all year long,” said Blanton-Kitts. “By strengthening and empowering families every day, we know that we can prevent the negative mental and physical effects of child abuse and provide children and families with the opportunity to live a healthy, productive and happy life.”

According to the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Tennessee, a child is abused or neglected every 47 seconds in the United States. The Helen Ross McNabb Center works to lower this statistic by ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills and resources they need to care for their children. The Center provides multiple programs that promote children's social and emotional well-being and stop child maltreatment within families and communities.

For more information about this event or child abuse prevention programs offered by the Helen Ross McNabb Center, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or contact Houston Smelcer at houston.smelcer@mcnabb.org or at (865) 329-9119.

The Helen Ross McNabb Center is a premier not‐for‐profit provider of behavioral health services in East Tennessee. Since 1948, the Center has provided quality and compassionate care to children, adults and families experiencing mental illness, addiction and social challenges. As the Center celebrates nearly 70 years of providing services to communities in East Tennessee, its mission remains clear and simple; “Improving the lives of the people we serve.” For more information, visit www.mcnabbcenter.org or call (865) 637‐9711.