Pinwheels for Prevention mark Child Abuse Prevention Month

A pinwheel garden represents the message that every child deserves to be raised in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment. Those wanting to share this message during Child Abuse Prevention Month can contact Family Support Services of West Central at info@pcfss.net and a pinwheel garden kit will be made available on a first come, first served basis.

Courtesy photo

April is National Child Abuse Prevention month, which means the community will be seeing many blue pinwheels throughout Indiana.

The Putnam County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force, with an organizing committee made up of representatives from Family Support Services Healthy Families and Victim Services Programs, the Department of Child Services, Cummins Behavioral Health, Mental Health America, the Putnam County Youth Development Commission/CASA Program and the Children’s Bureau, will be hard at work increasing awareness during the month by placing multiple pinwheel gardens around the county and other planned efforts.

The pinwheels represent the message that every child deserves to be raised in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment.

Every April, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, along with organizations across the state, plant pinwheel gardens outside to raise awareness.

Now that many children have been home from school because of the pandemic in the last year, it is even more important to check on those who may be suffering from neglect or abuse.

“We need to keep our eye out for that child in our neighborhood, or our own faith community, a friend of our children or grandchildren that might be a bit at risk,” said Scott Monnett, executive director of FSSWCI. “And perhaps reach out to those parents or reach out to the child and make sure everything’s okay.”

The Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is 1-800-800-5556. Suspicion of child abuse and neglect is enough to make a report. Callers are not required to provide proof and can be anonymous, but the report must be made in good faith. Failure to report or knowingly making a false report can lead to criminal and/or civil liability.

Those who would like to plant pinwheels in front of their home or business can contact Family Support Services of West Central at info@pcfss.net. Pinwheel garden kits will be made available on a first come, first served basis, as supplies are limited.