Child Abuse Prevention Month event kicks off in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and George Sheldon, the acting head of Illinois' Department of Children and Family Services has his eyes set on one big goal.

"I want us all to agree that the number one goal for this agency it to abolish its reason to exist," Sheldon said.

Sheldon joined groups such as "Prevent Child Abuse Illinois" for a kickoff event Tuesday at the Thompson Center.

According to Sheldon, in Illinois a child is lost to abuse or neglect every three days, and he says incidents of abuse have been on the rise.

Across the U.S., a child abuse report is filed every 10 seconds. The theme for Child Abuse Prevention Month is: "How will you help?"