Blue pinwheels are yard decor for April

Children’s Trust of Alachua County to host large ‘pinwheel garden’ for Child Abuse Prevention Month, invites community participation

March 20, 2024 —

Shining in the sun, the pinwheel is reflective of the bright future all children deserve, which is why it was selected as a symbol of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The Children’s Trust of Alachua County invites the community to join in this year’s observations, from “planting” a pinwheel garden to simply wearing the color blue.

The Pinwheels for Prevention initiative, created by Prevent Child Abuse America, recognizes that children raised in safe, stable and nurturing environments are more academically and financially successful and grow up to be productive, contributing members of their communities.

In 2023, the number of verified cases of child abuse in Alachua County was 2,123, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. This number is a result of over 5,000 local reports to the department’s Abuse Hotline (1-800-962-2873), which also means unreported cases may exist.

“Any number above zero is too high,” said Marsha Kiner, executive director of the Children’s Trust. “All it takes is one person to recognize the signs of abuse and potentially change the trajectory of a child’s life. This observance in April is all about raising recognition and becoming a community of helpers who will stand up for the health and wellbeing of all youth.”

The campaign is supported in Florida by the state’s Prevent Child Abuse America chapter, The Ounce of Prevention Fund, and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Participation could look like:

• Planting a pinwheel garden. Find a free printout to make your own pinwheels (a great activity with kids!) at ChildrensTrustOfAlachuaCounty.us. You can also sponsor a virtual pinwheel, electing to support the Prevent Child Abuse Florida chapter, at pinwheels.preventchildabuse.org.
• Wearing blue on April 5. When posting your selfie to social media on #WearBlueDay, don’t forget to tag the Children’s Trust of Alachua County.
• Learning how to help at a local level through organizations like Partnership for Strong Families.
• Finding resources to learn more about child abuse, how to recognize it, mandatory reporters and more at childwelfare.gov/topics/safety-and-risk/child-abuse-and-neglect.