PRINCETON, WV (WVNS) – April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and Mercer County shows its support for the future of the community.

Several agencies came together on Friday to show their support and to remember the children who were taken too early. Cathy Wallace, executive director of Child Law Services, said these agencies across the state are designed to get children out of dangerous situations. One of them is here in Mercer County.

“We do everything from finding continuity to adopting. My organization does a lot in the courtroom so we represent children in cases of abuse and neglect, ”Wallace said.

Wallace said that often children cannot stand up for themselves or their safety, which is why she said it was so important that these agencies speak out on behalf of those who cannot.

“So often, children are viewed retrospectively, or treated almost like property or something to argue about, and they are real living people. And so all of our agencies give these kids a voice, ”Wallace said.

Wallace said none of this work would be possible without the support of the community.

“We know that people support us, we know that people know what is going on and that we will not tolerate it. So when we see people coming out for something like this, we remind ourselves that we’re not alone, we’re fighting with a big team, ”Wallace said.