An educational event is scheduled for Valentine’s Day at the Danville Public Library. February is “Children of Addicts Awareness Month.” And from 2 to 3:30 PM on Wednesday the 14th, an informational session called “Mend a Broken Heart” will be designed to bring more attention to what is often a very hidden problem.
Dee Ann Ryan is leading the still developing Vermilion County Child Abuse Prevention/Drug Endangered Children Coalition. She says when children are dealing with addictive behavior among parents or within their own households, they will react in a variety of ways that often hide the real problem.
AUDIO: They’re usually the silent sufferers, because they don’t talk; and sometimes they’re not noticed. They might become the parent figure for their younger siblings. You know, they might become the clown in the family where they try to make everything funny. But the main thing is that they try to hide it because of the same.
Dee Ann Ryan explains “Children of Addicts Awareness Month” to the Danville City Council at their February 6th meeting.
Ryan says the plan right now is to hold a special camp, called the Confident Kids Camp, this summer; for children affected by addiction. Ryan says this will be a continuation of something that was going on prior to the pandemic, when the Soul Garden organization was holding similar special camps at Friendly Town in Lincoln Park.
AUDIO: This is our first attempt at getting it restarted. But it was real successful when we had it that summer. The kids loved it. I think it gave them a lot of confidence. That’s why we’ve decided to call it “Confident Kids.”
Up to one in four American children could be living with a family member suffering from a substance use disorder. Once again, you can learn more at the Wednesday, February 14th “Mend a Broken Heart” event, 2 PM at the Danville Public Library.
