If Sherry Cole had her way, every child would receive deserved respect, unconditional love and a happy childhood.

But it doesn’t always quite work out that way, and it was the reason Cole, the Madison County director of the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, was the guest speaker when the Jackson Exchange Club met Tuesday at the DoubleTree Hotel.

“Our theme this year for (Child Abuse Prevention) is “Every childhood deserves a happy ending,” Cole said. “Every month we need to recognize child abuse, but April is the national designation. People think it doesn’t affect them, but it could affect their neighbor, and in the long run, it affects all of us.”

Cole presented one of the Center’s newest programs – Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs.

“It is very important to understand that evidence shows that early experience – both positive and negative – are critical in the building and shaping (of) how the brain works. The long term effects of negative experiences in a young child’s life are evident in so many of our child abuse, neglect and sexual abuse cases.”

(PHOTO: Rita McCaslin (left) a board member with the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, is pictured with Sherry Cole, the Center’s Madison County director)

David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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