Art contest for child abuse prevention calendar accepting entries

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Looking to giving children a voice and aid adults in identifying child abuse in Native communities, a Native American-owned security firm kicks off an art contest today for Native American elementary and middle school children.

Personnel Security Consultants, Inc. (PSC), will incorporate the artwork into a calendar, which will include tips on detecting child abuse and child safety for those working in Native American communities.

In 1990, Congress passed the Indian Child Protection and Violence Protection Act, which requires investigations for employees, contractors or volunteers who have contact with Indian children.  But despite the law, abuse, incest and other crimes against Indian children still prevail. Twenty American Indian/Alaska Native children out of every 1,000 are victims of abuse, compared with 10 white children, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“We would like to empower the community to solve this crisis,” said PSC President & CEO Michele Justice (Navajo). “We would also like to give children a voice because this is about protecting them and our future.”

The calendar, which will be released in November, is in preparation of weeklong child abuse protection training and other safety workshops PSC will sponsor for Native American Heritage Month Nov. 6-12, 2011. Proceeds of the workshops will go toward Native American child abuse prevention programs.  Children whose artwork is chosen for the calendar will be honored at a dinner Nov. 7.  PSC will take orders for the calendar beginning Sept. 16 at the New Mexico State Fair.  To place an order by phone or email, please contact Jayme Bennett at jbennett@pscprotectsyou.com or 505-214-9117.

The theme of the contest is “What my Heritage Means to Me.”  Native American children in kindergarten through the eighth grade may enter. Deadline for submission of artwork is Sept. 2. All finalists’ entries will be placed on PSC’s website for a vote for the calendar cover Sept. 5-9.  A printable poster of this announcement is available here:

Printable Poster

For contest rules and entry forms, go to PSC’s website at www.pscprotectsyou.com.