Henderson County's Child Abuse Awareness project leaders say they want to increase awareness in the Cedar Creek Lake area.

Representatives from the District Attorney's and County Attorney's Offices are visiting lake area City Council meetings to spread the word. They are asking the city's mayors to declare April as "Child Abuse Awareness Month."

They also visited the the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's Gun Barrel City Chapter networking meeting this week.

DeAnna Browing of District Attorney Scott McKee's said the project was launched about six years ago. Awareness in the southern end of the county seems to be more widespread than it is in the Cedar Creek Lake area, she said.

Browning said school children are more likely to notice problems other children are experiencing. The children should alert adults such as teachers or parents about what they notice so the children suffering abuse can be helped, she said.

"They need to know they can tell someone about it," Browning said.

The abuse can involve neglect or verbal, mental or physical abuse, Browning said. Drug or alcohol abuse by parents often is connected to the abuse, she said.

For instance, students might be aware other children are being fed at home or wearing the same, unclean clothes for days at a time, Browning said.

The project is selling Child Abuse Awareness T-Shirts to help promote April as "Child Abuse Awareness Month." Royal Blue is the color that the project leaders chose for the T-Shirts.

The T-Shirts bear the message, "Go Blue" on the front and "Child Abuse .... Not on Our Turf" on the back.

For information about buying the T-Shirts or other information about child abuse, contact DeAnna Browing at 903-675-6100 or email [email protected].

The project leaders are also asking Henderson County merchants to support them by participating in the "Go Blue for Child Abuse Awareness Business Front Decorating Contest. Entry forms must be turned in by April 6, and the decoration of the business front must be completed by  the same day. Judging will be done through the month of April with first, second and third place winners being honored April 30th at their business.

For information about the contest contact Jessica Abbe, crime victim coordinator of the Henderson County District Attorney's Office, at 903-675-6100 or email [email protected].

Pictured below is City of Tool Mayor Tamra Brickey in the center with Browning, Diane Russ of the Henderson County Attorney's Office and Abbe standing behind her.