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First Coast Connect

04/19/16: Child Abuse Prevention; Author Steve Berry; Lymphedema; First Coast Connect Book Club

Child Abuse Prevention

April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

In Duval County, there were 2,471 reports of child abuse last year. That includes reports of neglect, physical and sexual abuse combined.

Out of the 735 children who were removed and sent to Foster Care in that same time period, 307 were removed due to neglect, physical abuse or sexual abuse.

We begin the hour with a closer look at two important events coming up in our area, focused on protecting kids, spotting the signs of abuse, and also the link between child abuse and human trafficking.

Dr. Randall Alexander, program director of the Pediatric Child Abuse Fellowship UF Health, and Dr. Richard Lapchick, global humans rights activist, join us.

Dr. Alexander will present at UF Health's upcoming "Child Abuse and Neglect: A Training Program for Professionals in the Field" seminar. Dr. Lapchick will be one of the keynote speakers at the Exchange Club Family Center's annual Child Abuse Conference and Luncheon this week.

Steve Berry

What happens if the president and vice-president-elect both die before taking the oath of office? The answer is political chaos, enough possibly to bring down the United States of America.

That’s the premise behind "The 14th Colony," the latest Cotton Malone thriller from New York Times bestselling author and First Coast resident Steve Berry.

We speak with Berry about his new novel.

Lymphedema

Dozens of activists from around the country are on Capitol Hill this week for what’s known as the 2016 Lymphedema Lobby Days.

They’re urging lawmakers to pass the Lymphedema Treatment Act. This federal bill aims to improve insurance coverage for medically necessary, doctor-prescribed compression supplies that are the cornerstone of lymphedema treatment.

Lymphedema, a chronic condition that affects 3-5 million Americans, is swelling in one or more extremities resulting from impaired flow of the lymphatic system.

In Florida 21,000 breast cancer patients on Medicare have lymphedema.

We speak with Candace Bridgewater, Florida Team Leader for the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, about their efforts.

First Coast Connect Book Club

In this month's edition of our First Coast Connect Book Club, book blogger Stacey Goldring and a special guest join us to discuss John Kennedy Toole's classic novel, "A Confederacy of Dunces."

Sean Birch joined the WJCT team in late 2011 and was with the company until 2016.