To the editor:

The Child Abuse Prevention Action Committee invites every community to take action for children by participating in their seventh annual “Build a Blue Ribbon Tree for Kids” campaign.

The blue ribbon is the international sign for child abuse prevention and serves as a constant reminder that all of us have a responsibility in helping to protect children. Communities are invited to participate by displaying blue ribbon trees during April.

However, to have your tree showcased in the blue ribbon tree slideshow during the Child Abuse Prevention Day Mini Conference, Tuesday, April 14, trees must be completed and registered by April 8.

Blue Ribbon Trees will be blossoming throughout Oklahoma communities in April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The goal is to get 2,015 childcare programs and licensed childcare homes to build blue ribbon trees in Oklahoma for April 2015.

Tree photos will be highlighted in the Child Abuse Prevention Month “official” scrapbook, on the OSDH Family Support and Prevention Service website, and on various social media sites.

A “Tree Registry” form is provided for people and organizations to register their trees with the OSDH Office of Child Abuse Prevention. The registration form is also available to print from the OSDH website at www.ok.gov/health2/documents/2015Build.

To “Build a Blue Ribbon Tree,” select any materials you choose.

If using a living tree, choose a highly visible location and secure needed permission. Creativity is encouraged. Decorate the tree with blue ribbons to represent any of the following:

• The number of new babies born in your community;

• Something significant to your agency, program or community (i.e. number of families served by your program/agency);

• Or use the ribbons to show your community support for children in general (benefit of this selection – NO counting ribbons).

Mail, fax or email a completed form to: Sherie Trice, OSDH Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Grant Coordinator, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Family Support and Prevention Service, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73117-1299, or fax to 405-271-1011, or e-mail SherieT@health.ok.gov.