TIFTON — City and county leaders pledged their support to the Tift County Council on Child Abuse during their most recent meetings.

The governing bodies of Tifton and Tift County jointly signed a proclamation during their March 3 and 4 meetings, respectively, to declare the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month as a show of support for the council’s mission and goals.

In the proclamation, which was presented to members of the Council on Child Abuse present at the meetings, both Tifton mayor Julie Smith and County Board of Commissioners chair Tony McBrayer noted that more than 500 children had suffered from some form of abuse or neglect in the past year, and promised to aid the council in preventing future child abuse and eliminate the issue in its entirety.

They encouraged their constituents to band together and work to raise awareness for children suffering from abuse and neglect so as to help them find and secure a safe, positive future.

Smith reported that the Tift County Commission on Children and Youth and the Council on Child Abuse have planned to organize a campaign to spread the word about their cause through a variety of activities and programs throughout the upcoming month, beginning with a pinwheel ceremony to be held April 4 at 10 a.m. in front of the Tift County Recreation Department. Residents interested in attending the event have been asked to wear blue in support of the cause of child abuse prevention and awareness.