"We pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime." -- read by Robin Belperain from the poem "A Prayer for Children" by Ina J. Hughs.

It all began when Virginia grandmother Bonnie Finney tied a blue ribbon to her car antenna to raise awareness about child abuse. The practice grew, and today the wearing of a blue ribbon is synonymous with persons working to prevent the practice from occurring.

April is child abuse prevention month, and last week a group of some 26 persons, the majority of them from the children's services unit of the Department of Social Services, gathered for a candle lighting ceremony held at Scotland Place in Laurinburg. The event was held to both remember the victims of child abuse and to honor those who work with these young victims. Blue ribbons were passed to each member of the audience to signify the importance of the occasion.

DSS Social Work Supervisor Wendy Stanton provided the opening remarks.

"Child abuse is a community problem, and we are here to both raise community awareness as well as to honor those who suffer. Many agencies work to protect child abuse victims besides the DSS, including Guardian ad Litem and the county health department."

Kitty Johnson, director of nursing for the Scotland County Health Department, was one of those in attendance at the ceremony.

"I thought the ceremony was very moving, very touching," Johnson said following the event. "The paths of the DSS and the health department cross often when dealing with child abuse. A lot of good comes out of it when we join forces to work together."

Laurinburg Mayor Matthew Block took the podium to read from a proclamation he had signed earlier in the week recognizing the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention month in the city.

A group of DSS employees completed the program by reading statements adapted from the poem "A Prayer for Children" by Ina J. Hughs. After delivering their tributes to abused children, the workers each lit a candle in the childrens' honor.

For her passage, Robin Belperain read: "And we pray for those whose nightmares come in the daytime ... and who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep, who live and move, but have no being."

In Scotland County¹s fiscal year 2007-2008, a total of 1113 children were reported to be abused, neglected, and dependent. Out of those reported, 832 were unsubstantiated while 186 were found to have been subjected to abuse, neglect, or dependence in their homes. DSS workers suspect many more cases go unreported.

As part of the candlelight ceremony, Yolanda Alford read "The Story of the Blue Ribbon", recounting how the ribbon became associated with child abuse awareness. The key message was delivered by Amanda Martin, and Andrea "Renee" McLeod sang "Sweet, Sweet, Spirit".

"If you have knowledge of a suspected event that needs to be reported after hours, you can reach an on-call social worker by contacting your local police department at (910) 276-3385," Stanton said.

"You not only have a duty to report such case, but a legal responsibility. North Carolina has a mandatory reporting law that says 'any person, or Institution who has cause to suspect that any juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent or has died as the result of maltreatment, shall report the case of that juvenile to the director of Social Services in the county where the juvenile resides or is found.'"

If you suspect a child may be the victim of abuse or neglect, call the DSS at (910) 277-2500 ext. 3366, contact them by mail at P.O. Box 1647, Laurinburg, or visit the agency at 1405 West Boulevard, Laurinburg, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The identity of those who report abuse is kept secret.