April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary and Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling have officially challenged each other’s cities to “go blue” for child abuse prevention awareness.
On Friday, April 7, national Wear Blue Day, each city’s mayor, commission, and employees will attempt to out-blue one another. The city with the highest number of employees per capita who wear blue on April 7, will win. The winning city will be announced on Tuesday, April 11, and will be awarded a traveling trophy and bragging rights for the year.
Participants wearing blue are encouraged to take group photos or selfies and e-mail them to info@pcand.org for posting on Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota’s Facebook page and website at www.pcand.org. Photos can also be posted to Instagram at PreventChildAbuseNorthDakota.
Mayor Seminary said, “I encourage all citizens and City of Bismarck employees to wear blue today. Wear Blue Day is a time we observe and acknowledge the importance of working together to prevent child abuse. Everyone wants healthy communities, healthy families, and healthy kids. We all have an important role in prevention. Wear Blue on April 7 to show your support of efforts to nurture strong families and healthy kids.”
This is the second year of the friendly challenge between the two cities. Mandan won the traveling trophy last year.
In new developments this year, students from Mandan Middle School are challenging students from Horizon Middle School, and students from Mandan High are School challenging students from St. Mary’s High School.
Students, faculty and administrators wearing blue are asked to take a group photo and share them on social media with hashtags #wearbluedaynd or #greatchildhoods or send them to info@pcand.org for posting on Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota’s Facebook page and website. The middle school and high school with the greatest percentage of their student body wearing blue will receive an award.
The contest between Bismarck and Mandan city employees will be judged by representatives from Prevent Child Abuse North Dakota, one of the sponsors of North Dakota’s “Wear Blue Day.” Wear Blue Day is also sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Children and Family Services Division.