LOGAN — April is a big month for The Family Place Utah. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and The Family Place will hold their Steppin’ Up For Kids on Wednesday, April 1.
Amberley Snyder rides her horse as a barrel racer dispite being paralyzed from the waist down.
This event brings attention to child abuse in Cache Valley. Hundreds of shoes will be lined up on the steps of the Historic Cache County Courthouse. Each pair of shoes represents a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect right here in Cache Valley.
Dr. Sheryl Goodey, PhD, executive director of The Family Place Utah, said they have partnered their Child Abuse Prevention Month with Utah Family Strengthening Month.
“We want to teach our community that there are ways that we can prevent child abuse through strengthening the family and increasing resilience,” Goodey explained, “so those two things partner well together.”
People in the county may not realize abuse and neglect happens here and it is something everyone needs to keep their eyes on, she said.
“I think a lot of people think the valley is sheltered from the hard things happening in bigger cities like Salt Lake,” Goodey said. “But child abuse happens here. This is never a happy statistic, but one we should all be aware of especially during April, Child Abuse Prevention Month.”
This year’s Steppin’ Up event will be backed by some serious star power, with paraplegic rodeo star Amberley Snyder as the guest speaker at 4 p.m. at the courthouse.
The Utah State University graduate still competes in rodeo at the highest level despite being paralyzed from the waist down. Early on she was told by doctors not to get her hopes up about ever riding a horse again after she became paralyzed from the waist down.
Today, she is the only professional paralyzed barrel racer in the United States, she continues to compete and has qualified for two Wilderness Circuit Finals as well as the American Rodeo.
“There is no one better to speak on resilience at this important event,” Goodey said. “We are so excited to have Amberley speak, and so grateful that she is willing to support such an amazing cause.”
The Family Place will also hold their 21st annual Blue-Ribbon Benefit Fundraiser on Saturday, April 25 at 5 p.m. in the Riverwoods Conference Center. This year it is fittingly Kentucky Derby-themed.
The event will include a dinner, silent and live auctions. There will also be exciting derby games and prizes.
This event helps support the nonprofit with a continuous dream dedicated to always strengthening families and protecting children through their services of Therapy, Family Education, and Kids Place.
All proceeds from the donations for the Blue-Ribbon Event will support The Family Place for many more years to come.
For information about the event, call 435-752-8880 or visit thefamilyplaceutah.org.