Community invited to Superhero Walk April 1 to support Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control, "About 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience child sexual abuse at some point in childhood. Ninety-one (91%) of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child or child's family knows."

In an effort to prevent and bring awareness to child abuse in our area, the Nampa Family Justice Center is partnering with the Canyon County Law Enforcement Foundation to host the annual "Superhero Walk" on Saturday, April 1, 2023 starting at 2 p.m.

The entire community is invited to wear their superhero outfits and capes, or blue clothing, and meet at the Caldwell Police Department, located at 110 S 5th Ave in Caldwell. We will hear from one of Nampa's Camp Hope Idaho participants about the superheroes in her life, as well as the superhero she has become in our community. Participants, including officers from the Nampa Police Department, will walk from the Caldwell Police Department to the Canyon County Courthouse and plant pinwheels in the courthouse lawn. Pinwheels are a symbol of "playfulness, joy, and childhood… and of the great childhoods we want for all children." There will also be an Easter egg hunt at Justice Park. Hotdogs, chips and water will be served free of charge thanks to generous donors.

"Talking about physical and sexual abuse, as well as other forms of neglect and endangerment, can be difficult for victims, their families, and the general public," said Jennifer Perry, LCSW, Child Advocacy Center Manager with the Nampa Family Justice Center. "We want to celebrate the many superheroes in our community: the brave young voices that come forward to tell their story, the caregivers who believe them and take action, the community members who take steps to recognize and prevent abuse, and the professionals who work to keep kids safe and bring hope and healing to survivors of abuse. As the community sees blue pinwheels throughout the Treasure Valley during the month of April, we hope they serve as an encouragement to take steps to better recognize, respond to, and prevent child abuse…to be a superhero."

To learn more about statistics from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childsexualabuse/fastfact.html.