Stepping Up for Kids at Pittsfield City Hall

Step Up for Kids Berkshires

On Friday, April 17, the Children’s Trust partnered with Child Care of the Berkshires for their annual Step Up for Kids event. The event brought together legislators, family support staff, community members, and families, to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month and highlight prevention efforts and family support programs in Berkshire County.  

Sixty-five pairs of children’s shoes lined the steps of Pittsfield City Hall, representing the average number of children confirmed as abused or neglected each month in Berkshire County. The display stood as the focal point of the annual event, where speakers emphasized that child abuse and neglect can be prevented with the right support.  

“We know that when families can access resources and get support early, before challenges escalate, outcomes are better across the board. When families can get support sooner, we strengthen families and create better outcomes for children across the Commonwealth.”

Jennifer Valenzuela, Executive Director of the Children’s Trust

The Children’s Trust and Child Care of the Berkshires were joined by community leaders, including Representative John Barrett, Chair of House Committee on Operations, Facilities and Security; Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Chair of the Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity; Representative Leigh Davis; District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue; and Pittsfield Mayor Peter M. Marchetti. These leaders all stressed that meaningful prevention depends on coordinated, long-term investment in programs that strengthen families and address root causes of child abuse and neglect, like mental health and economic insecurity. 

“Child Care of the Berkshires has a variety of programs that focus on supporting and strengthening families. Our home visitors connect families to community programs and provide them with consistent support, encouragement, and knowledge of child development. Our goal is to strengthen the parents or caregivers to give them the confidence they need to help children thrive.”

Amy Hall, President and CEO of Child Care of the Berkshires

Kaycee Smith, a participant in the Child Care of the Berkshire Healthy Families program, part of the Children’s Trust’s network of programs, spoke about the impact of family support programming. 

“Without Healthy Families, I would have been set up for failure, with no support system, no resources, and no clue what to do when navigating leaving a DV [domestic violence] relationship with my child. She was a boulder in the ocean that was too rough to swim in. When the water got choppy and I started to drown she stood still in the waves offering a ledge to lift myself up on and finally catch my breath.”

Kaycee Smith, Child Care of the Berkshires Healthy Families program participant

Step Up for Kids Berkshires serves as a powerful reminder that behind every statistic is a child and a family in need of support. As Child Abuse Prevention Month continues, leaders and advocates say the focus must remain on early intervention and sustained investment in family support systems to help prevent abuse before it occurs and strengthen communities across Berkshire County.