Residents can help a Michigan child when filing state tax returns
Since 1985, April has been nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has officially declared it such once again in Michigan. The Michigan Children’s Trust Fund has used this special time each year to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child maltreatment in all of its forms.
Recent news stories have highlighted the need for people to say something if they see or fear something is happening to a child. Michigan’s toll-free child abuse hotline, 855-444-3911, is professionally staffed 24/7 year round.
“We can be a powerful voice for Michigan’s children and work together to prevent child abuse and neglect,” said Nick Lyon, interim director of Michigan Department of Human Services. “Whether we’re focusing on improving our services to children through our programs, or calling to report concerns to Michigan’s child abuse hotline, we all play a role in ensuring our children are safe and protected.”
Between now and April 15, 2015, another simple but effective way for taxpayers to help is to contribute to the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) when they’re filing Michigan state income tax forms. All funds raised through this check off go directly to efforts to protect Michigan children. It is No. 6 on the Michigan Voluntary Contributions Schedule.
A highlight of the month is the seventh annual Michigan Prevention Awareness Day rally. This year’s event will take place on the steps of the State Capitol in Lansing at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 23. Nick Lyon and Children’s Trust Fund Director Michael Foley will be joined by other child abuse and neglect prevention advocates for this important event.
Prevention Awareness Day also serves as a legislative education day by giving advocates the opportunity to discuss prevention needs and current programming in Michigan with legislators.
Child abuse and prevention efforts recognize that people understand that child abuse and neglect is a serious problem, but often don’t know how to prevent it, and that some of the issues they care the most about—such as the economy and rising health costs—are related to child abuse and neglect. Child abuse costs the nation an estimated annual direct cost of $124 billion, approximately $1,400 each year for the average American family.
CTF, currently housed within the Michigan Department of Human Services, serves as a voice for Michigan’s children and families and promotes their health, safety and welfare by funding effective local programs and services that prevent child abuse and neglect. Since 1982, CTF has generated more than $60 million to support prevention programs and services in communities. Additionally, CTF funds 73 local child abuse and neglect prevention councils that serve all of Michigan’s 83 counties and administers more than 20 community-based direct service grants across the state, including childhood development programs, respite care and home visitation programs.
Learn more about local CTF-funded local councils throughout Michigan.
For more information about Michigan Child Abuse Prevention Month activities and 2015 Prevention Awareness Day, go to www.michigan.gov/PreventChildAbuse.
For more information on the Children’s Trust Fund, visit the CTF website at www.michigan.gov/ctf.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
