Child Abuse Prevention Association

The Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA) announces that Kansas City Royals’ Hall-of-Famer Frank White will be its Children’s Champion. White will help CAPA to spread its message about preventing child abuse and child neglect while promoting efforts to bring people together in the Kansas City community to make a difference in the lives of our children.

The kickoff of this partnership will begin during National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month this April at CAPA’s Annual Meeting Community Change for Children - Keep Kids Safe being held at the Ararat Shrine April 29th @ 8AM.

In the state of Missouri in 2003, child abuse and neglect hotlines received 56,953 calls involving 86,735 children. 44 of these children died as a direct result of child abuse and/or neglect. 22 or 49.8% of the children who died were under the age of 1. Sadly, 61% of the perpetrators of these crimes were the victim’s natural parent. Caretakers of abused children who were relatives—parents, grandparents, and other family members–account for 84% of perpetrators.

Research documented in Kids Count estimates that 30-50 percent of children will experience some form of abuse or neglect during childhood. Jackson County ranks 79th in Missouri in terms of infant mortality, with 8.2 cases per 1,000 births and 75th in child abuse and neglect with 50.8 cases per 1,000 births.

CAPA’s Children Champion, Frank White, was the 1980 Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees, leading the Royals to their first World Series appearance. A smooth-fielding 2nd baseman, White was a five-time All-Star. He won the Gold Glove Award eight times, including six consecutive seasons from 1977 to 1982. After his retirement from active play, White went on to coach in the Kansas City organization. More recently, in February 2008, White joined Fox Sports Net Kansas City to serve as color commentator on Royals telecasts, filling in for Paul Splittorff on select games, and as analyst on the channel’s Royals Live post-game show.

White’s Kansas City roots extend back to even before he broke into Major League Baseball. He was once a student at Jackson County’s Longview Community College. Over the years, he has earned well-deserved recognition for taking the lead in a wide range of Kansas City philanthropic efforts.

If you are interested in joining Frank White and CAPA’s Board of Directors for its Annual Meeting or to help in the abuse prevention movement, please call 816-252-8388, ext. 313, or e-mail dcastllo@childabuseprevention.org

Every Child Should be

SAFE!

{especially at Home}