To mark the start of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the CAC will host the following flag-raising events:

• Amherst, Monday, April 3^rd, 2:30 p.m.. Common across from City Hall, 4 Boltwood Avenue

• Easthampton, Wednesday, April 5^th, at 9 a.m., City Hall, 50 Payson Avenue

• Ware, Wednesday, April 5^th, at Noon, Veteran’s Park, 101 Main Street

• Northampton, Friday, April 7^th, at Noon, Police Department, 29 Center Street

• Hadley, Friday, April 7^th 2 p.m., Town Hall, 100 Middle Street

• South Hadley, Monday, April 10^th, 9:00 a.m, Police Department, 41 Bridge Street

• Belchertown, Monday, April 10^th, 10:30 a.m, Town Hall, 2 Jabish Street

Please join us!

The Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) of Hampshire County Inc. is based upon the fundamental premise that children have the right to be safe and protected from harm. The CAC is dedicated to minimizing secondary trauma to child victims by streamlining the handling of cases of child sexual abuse, serious child physical abuse, and child exploitation.

Through the CAC, children and families are linked to medical, mental health, victim advocacy and other services determined on a case-by-case basis. At the CAC our services are provided free of charge for as long as a child may need them.

This 51A online training was designed by the Middlesex Children’s Advocacy Center in collaboration with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office to help mandated reporters:

• Understand their legal obligations as mandated reporters
• Recognize possible signs and symptoms of maltreatment
• Know how to respond to a child who discloses abuse
• Know how to file a 51A Report
• Understand what happens after a 51A Report is filed