DSCR reinforces commitment to children, military families

Leaders from the Defense Supply Center Richmond installation management team, joined by employees from Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support (Richmond) and the Bettye Ackerman-Cobb Child Development Center, officially recognized April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Month of the Military Child during a proclamation signing ceremony held April 1 on DSCR, Virginia.

The Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Office hosted the event, highlighting the installation's commitment to protecting children and supporting military families.

The ceremony brought together members of the DSCR community, emphasizing the critical importance of creating a safe and nurturing environment for all children. David Gibson, site director for DSCR Installation Management Richmond, and Ursula Hickox, Chief of MWR Richmond, officiated the event and signed the proclamations.

"This is a meaningful moment for our community as we reaffirm our commitment to protecting children, supporting military families, and strengthening the environments in which they grow," said Jennifer Scott, installation management family programs manager. "Today, we honor the resilience, courage and unique contributions of military-connected children as we renew our pledge to work collectively to ensure the safety and well-being of every child."

The first proclamation designated April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, raising awareness of the alarming statistic that approximately 33,847 children were reported as abused and neglected in Virginia last year. The proclamation stressed that child abuse is a community-wide problem that requires everyone's involvement to find solutions.

"The effects of child abuse are felt by the whole community and, therefore, need to be addressed by the entire community," the proclamation read, calling on all personnel to become more aware of prevention efforts and to actively support parents raising children in safe environments.

The second proclamation celebrated the Month of the Military Child, acknowledging the unique sacrifices and challenges faced by the children of service members. Gibson noted the approximately 1.6 million military children across the nation, who often face frequent moves, school transitions and the emotional stress of parental deployments.

"Growing up is tough, especially for a military child," Gibson said. "They change schools a lot, constantly have to make new friends, and are continuously being reintroduced to new environments which only adds extra stressors."

This focus on family and community welfare directly aligns with the "People" imperative of the DLA Strategic Plan. This imperative emphasizes that DLA's people are its most valuable asset, and by investing in programs that support employees and their families, the agency ensures its workforce is resilient, secure and mission-focused.

"A support enables the DLA workforce to provide unparalleled logistics and acquisition support to the warfighter with precision and confidence, knowing their own families are cared for," Scott said.

Following the signings, attendees were encouraged to visit resource booths staffed by FMWR's Family Advocacy Program and other local support agencies, providing valuable information for individuals and their families.