Wrapping up Child Abuse Awareness Month
Media Contact
Renea Wood, 541-274-4797
Klamath Fall’s Day of Hope 2025
The National Childhelp Day of Hope, observed annually on the first Wednesday of April, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about child abuse and neglect. It is a call to action, encouraging individuals and communities to advocate for stronger child protection policies and support resources.
Klamath Falls hosted a Day of Hope event at the Ross Ragland Theater on April 2, 2025. At the event, organizations like Sky Lakes Medical Center, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the District Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement, victim/survivor support programs, social service organizations, and coalition members shared resources and inspired collective action.
“CARES is honored to be a member of the Klamath County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition, working alongside dedicated partners to support the annual Day of Hope event.” shared Klamath-Lake CARES Clinical Manager Samantha Fenner.
The event was emceed by Billy Redd, a member of the Klamath County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition and Director of Development Marketing, Training, Community Development at Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union (PCFCU). PCFCU donated all the pinwheels that are displayed around Klamath County to represent Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Klamath County Commissioner, former marine, law enforcement officer, and survivor of childhood abuse, Andy Nichols, was the event’s keynote speaker. Nichols spoke about his own experience with childhood abuse. Henley High School’s A Touch of Class Choir and Ferguson Elementary’s first grade class performed for the event.
Moments of Hope in the Basin
Satayvah Wilson, Klamath Tribe’s 2025 Sobriety queen, conducted a stuffed animal fundraiser for children at CARES in March. At Brixner’s eighth grade girls’ basketball team’s last home game, Satayvah arranged for those in attendance to bring a stuffed animal for children at CARES. After the last basket was made, those in the stands threw stuffed animals onto the Brixner Basketball Court.
Multi-Disciplinary Team Training Day a Success
Coordinator for the Klamath and Lake County Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), Samantha Fenner, organized the annual MDT Training Day, which took place in February 2025, ensuring that MDT members have local access to high-level child abuse training. This initiative equips those involved in these cases with excellent education, fostering a more effective and compassionate response to child abuse.
Coming up!
Klamath County Child Abuse Symposium
CARES is thankful to contribute to the annual Klamath County Child Abuse Symposium, held on August 19th and 20th at the Oregon Institute of Technology. Organized by the Klamath County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition, this two-day event gathers local and national experts to educate our community. This year’s focus on substance use disorders and their impact on children and family structures addresses pressing issues, and CARES is humbled to support these discussions that strengthen our collective response to child abuse.
CARES
Sky Lakes Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services (CARES) provides a medical haven for those affected by child abuse in the four-county area Sky Lakes serves. Nationally accredited by the National Children’s Alliance, CARES also offers treatment recommendations and referral services to victims of abuse. Where applicable, human services and law enforcement agencies may request objective documentation of the medical examination and interview.
If you think a child is being abused, call 855-503-SAFE (7233). Trained child welfare screeners will talk with you about your concerns and decide if follow up or referrals are needed.
