The Blue Ribbon Award is given annually to recognize communities that exemplify a strong commitment to prevent child maltreatment through collaborative efforts of public, private, nonprofit and local services and activities.

Community leaders, parent advocates and Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota staff will personally present the 2012 Blue Ribbon Award to the following: Red Lake Reservation, and Anoka, Becker, Big Stone, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Faribault, Freeborn, Grant, Hennepin, Lake, Lyon, McLeod, Morrison, Mower, Olmsted, Polk, Renville, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Todd and Watonwan counties.

These awards are presented to county commissioners and community leaders in an effort to encourage continued investment in awareness, maintaining prevention and family strengthening efforts, and knowledge of their innovative programs. The blue ribbon and pinwheel are national symbols of child abuse prevention awareness.

Established in 1979, Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota is an independent, nonprofit organization that engages Minnesota’s individuals, organizations and communities in actions that stop child abuse and neglect before occurring in the first place. Because child development is a foundation for community and economic development, as capable children grow to become the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable society, PCAMN’s work helps build prosperous futures for all Minnesotans.

A mainstay of its efforts is a network of parent and child support groups, a service Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota has provided to Minnesota families since its inception in 1979. Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota also hosts the 1-800-CHILDREN help line, publishes and distributes positive parenting and abuse prevention materials, and produces child abuse and neglect prevention training programs year-round.

For more information about Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, contact Becky Dale at 651-523-0099, Ext. 116, email at bdale@pcamn.org or visit www.pcamn.org.