BUFFALO, N.Y. - Members of Erie County's Coalition Against Family Violence gathered on Friday inside of the county building to recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention month.
Several key speakers took to the podium, including County Executive Mark Poloncarz, legislator Barbara Miller-Williams and Tom Travers, an adult survivor of child sexual abuse.
Coalition members say Buffalo's Child Advocacy Center has provided services to more than 1,100 victims.
Leaders urged the entire community to play an active role in protecting children from abuse and violence.
"Every teacher, every politician, every parent, every neighbor, every grocery store clerk, all of us can make a difference in preventing child abuse," said Laurie Syms, Child Advocacy Center Education and Outreach Coordinator.
"It takes incredible strength and fortitude to be able to understand why our lives have been derailed," said Tom Travers, a child abuse victim.
Travers says he was abused as a child by a clergyman with the Diocese of Buffalo.
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