Pinwheels for Prevention

Affiliates

Wells FRCC
Winnemucca FRC
Wendover FRC

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Strong Families Through Education, Encouragement and Support

Sponsored by the Family Resource Center

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

What is Pinwheels for Prevention

Pinwheels for Prevention is a public awareness and educational campaign, designed to bring attention to child abuse and neglect in our community. In 2006, the first Pinwheels for Prevention campaign in Nevada was held in our very own Elko County and was so successful in capturing the community’s attention and motivating people to become involved in child abuse prevention efforts it was adopted statewide. Pinwheels for Prevention is designed to show the public in a very dramatic way that child abuse and neglect happen in every community and encourages each of us to focus on prevention as part of an overall plan to break the cycle of abuse. Each April, in communities throughout the state of Nevada colorful pinwheels are planted on the courthouse lawn. Each pinwheel represents a case of child abuse or neglect reported to the Division of Child and Family Services in Elko last year. In 2008, there were 284 reports of child abuse and neglect in Elko County. These pinwheels don’t just represent the number of reports; they represent boys and girls in our community that need our help. Each pinwheel, also represents a call from someone concerned enough to make a report.

The objective of Pinwheels for Prevention is to increase community awareness and prevention of child abuse and neglect through education. We communicate the need for prevention efforts, as well as the important message that as a community and as individuals, we all have a part to play in eliminating child abuse. Through this campaign, we are able to rally organizations and individuals to be diligent in their efforts to rid child abuse in our community until it is but a sad and distant memory and the only pinwheels we see are in the hands of happy children.

The 2008 campaign will include an educational component. Each week in April a community forum will be presented educating community members on how to prevent abuse and neglect. Topics will include recognizing warning signs of abuse, selecting a safe day care provider, shaken baby syndrome and more. Children and youth are central to this campaign; their well-being and best interest are at heart. Last year we had children from the community and our local Head Start take part in planting pinwheels on the courthouse lawn. They knew each pinwheel planted represented a child who needed our help.

The campaign is more than just making the public aware of a problem. It’s a call to action! Last year we recognized a community member and local organization with awards for their outstanding support in preventing child abuse and neglect.

Pinwheels for Prevention focuses our attention here in Elko County and recognizes we can make a difference.

Preventing Child Abuse:

What you can do in your community

	· Get to know your neighbors. Problems often seem less overwhelming when you have support nearby.
	· Reach out to families and children in your community. If a family you know seems to be under stress, offer to help. You can offer to baby-sit, help with chores and errands, or suggest resources that can help the family.
	· Volunteer to support children and families. You can become a parent mentor and serve as a role model for new parents. You also can volunteer at a parent resource center and help families get the support they need.
	· Encourage child- and family-serving agencies you are involved with to do something about child abuse. They can develop and implement a child abuse prevention policy and provide annual child abuse awareness presentations for staff, volunteers and parents.
	· Be an active community member. Attend town meetings and community events. Join groups that are working to improve your community.
	· Get involved with the local child abuse prevention agency or collaborative in your community. You can call 1-800-992-5757 for help in locating a prevention agency in your community.
	· Become an advocate. Speak out against child abuse. Contact your elected officials and ask them to support child- and family-friendly policies and funding for prevention programs.
	· Make a donation to organizations that serve children and families. Most charitable contributions are tax deductible, and they support efforts to help children and families.
	· If you suspect child abuse, report it – it’s the right thing to do.

Pinwheels in Elko

Nevada’s statewide event bringing attention to child abuse and neglect in communities across Nevada. In April, in communities throughout the state of Nevada colorful pinwheels will be planted in front of courthouses, playgrounds, libraries and parks. Each pinwheel represents a case of child abuse or neglect reported to the Division of Child and Family Services made in that community last year.

In 2008, there were 284 substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect in Elko County. Most Nevadans are unaware of how widespread the problem of child abuse is in their own community. Pinwheels for Prevention is designed to show that child abuse and neglect happen in every community and encourage community members to focus on prevention as part of an overall plan to break the cycle of abuse.

Important Websites

www.Snahec.org

www.crisiscallcenter.org

www.nphf.org

www.childabuseprevention.com

www.preventchildabuse.org

www.pinwheelsforprevention.org

Pinwheels for Prevention 2009