Eight, Arizona PBS airs 'Ask an Expert' segment for Child Abuse Prevention Month

"Keeping Children Safe: Ask an Expert," part of the Eight, Arizona PBS ongoing "Ask An Arizona Expert" series, offers Arizonans a forum to hear from local and national experts with the very latest in child abuse prevention strategies and resources, as well as the opportunity to phone in or write in via social media to speak directly with a local expert for referrals and answers to questions on issues of preventing child abuse and human trafficking.

The broadcast takes place at 8 p.m., April 21, on Eight HD, during national Child Abuse Prevention Month. "Keeping Children Safe: Ask an Expert" can also be viewed online immediately following the broadcast, at www.azpbs.org/arizonaexpert.

"We all care about the issue of child abuse but in the past, we've heard a lot more about the problem than we do about the solutions," says Kimberly Flack, Eight, Arizona PBS associate general manager of education. "Prevention priorities have historically lagged behind abuse response measures, resulting in long-lasting negative effects on children, their families and society as a whole. Preventing abuse means setting the stage for healthy, stable families who have the tools they need for nurturing their children. And we're pleased to be able to offer Arizonans this valuable resource in connecting them with this extraordinary group of experts."

Ted Simons, host of "Arizona Horizon," will moderate the expert panel featuring:

• Becky Ruffner, executive director at Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
• Robert Bell, children’s justice coordinator for Maricopa County at the Childhelp Children’s Center of Arizona
• Cordelia Anderson, author and national expert on human trafficking & prevention of child sexual abuse/exploitation

Representatives from organizations including Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Child Crisis Center will be in Eight’s studio taking viewer calls from 7-10 p.m. A team of bilingual experts will also answer questions from the community via Facebook and Twitter.

This broadcast is made possible by a grant from The Steele Foundation.