You may have wondered why bright blue pinwheels are suddenly sprouting up in the flowerbeds of public buildings and at some homes here in Susanville. The pinwheels stand as a symbol representing a national effort to raise public awareness of child abuse and neglect.
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the pinwheel as the new national symbol for child abuse prevention through Pinwheels for Prevention. According to the organization, “By its very nature, the pinwheel connotes whimsy and childlike notions. In essence, it has come to serve as the physical embodiment, or reminder, of the great childhoods we want for all children.”
The Lassen County Board of Supervisors have declared April, 2018, to be Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Child Abuse Prevention Council members are ‘planting’ Pinwheel Gardens around town.
82 pinwheels have been installed by the Lassen County Fair sign on Main Street representing the 82 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect in Lassen County last year.
Parents, grandparents, foster parents, child care providers, aunts, uncles, babysitters and anyone who plays a caregiving role in the life of a child of any age are all invited to participate in a free conference being offered April 21st, at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall in Susanville.
The Family Connections Conference, a community event spearheaded by Sierra Cascade Family Opportunities, is designed for participants to walk away feeling refreshed, inspired and equipped with some new tools to add to their parenting toolbox. Organizations including Lassen County Public Health, Lassen Child and Family Services, Lassen Resource and Referral, Lassen County Behavioral Health, Lassen County Office of Ed and others are helping to fund and plan the event.
For more information about the conference follow this link.
Michelle Godman, Lassen County Health and Social Services’ Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program Coordinator, included these important points to consider during Child Abuse Prevention Month:
- When families, friends, and neighbors join together to support and nurture children, we can prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Two of the major risk factors that can lead to child abuse and neglect are family isolation and stress.
- Preventing child abuse is everyone’s responsibility. Volunteer, speak up, reach out.
- Neglect is the most common form of child abuse. Jump in. Help out. All kids deserve a happy, healthy childhood.
- Neglected children are more likely to have lower reading ability, higher rates of unemployment, higher rates of suicide attempts and criminal records.
- A Community in Unity will prevent child abuse. #unite4kids
- Strengthening at-risk families plus improving at-risk neighborhoods equals child abuse prevention. Play a positive role in our community.
- We can’t put a dollar value on the life of a child. But we can play a part in ending the tragedy of child abuse by supporting children and families.
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