To mark April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, LACASA Center’s Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Council is set to launch its county-wide Pinwheels for Prevention campaign.
The organization is inviting community members to participate in a variety of activities throughout the month, including displaying silver and blue pinwheel gardens or bouquets.
“We encourage local schools, businesses, organizations, and individuals to create indoor or outdoor pinwheel displays in April and to join us at our virtual Plant a Pinwheel Celebration on April 6,” said LACASA’s Director of Family Prevention and Education, Holly Naylor.
Community members can purchase pinwheel garden kits, pinwheel bouquets, and pinwheel-themed items starting in mid-March at the LACASA Collection, the nonprofit’s charity resale boutique in Howell. All pinwheel merchandise is offered for a suggested donation and proceeds support the CAP Council’s prevention programming.
“It is always inspiring to see pinwheel gardens displayed at businesses, organizations and in neighborhoods across the county in April,” said Naylor. “Pinwheels are the national symbol for child abuse prevention and convey the message that every child deserves the chance to be raised in a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment.”
The CAP Council’s virtual “Plant a Pinwheel Celebration” event will be held on Wednesday, April 6, at noon. It will include guest speakers, children’s musical performances from students at Voyager Elementary School, and recognition of the 2022 Champion for Children award winner. Attendees will find the Zoom event link on LACASA’s website at lacasacenter.org/pinwheels-for-prevention.
The Council will feature CAP Month-related content on social media throughout April, including information on Wear Blue Day on April 1, and articles on how to help children grow up happy and healthy.
LACASA’s CAP Council encourages local residents to get involved in efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Livingston County children. The following tips from the national “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign are easy for everyone to implement:
- Be a friend to a parent you know. Ask how their children are doing. Draw on your own experiences to provide reassurance and support. If a parent seems to be struggling, show you understand and offer help.
- Be a friend to a child you know. Remember their names. Smile when you talk with them. Ask them about their day at school. Send them a card in the mail.
- Give your used clothing, furniture and toys for use by another family. This can help relieve the stress of financial burdens that parents sometimes take out on their kids.
- Volunteer your time and money for programs in your community that support children and families.
Naylor invites organizations to reach out to the CAP Council about ways to help prevent child abuse.
“We host seminars and workshops on ways to prevent child abuse for any group in any format. Not just in April, but throughout the year,” said Naylor. “Prevention is a year-round effort. Let us know how we can partner with your organization or business to help support your prevention efforts, whether virtually or in person.”
For questions about CAP Month plans in April, to request a pinwheel garden kit, or to inquire about bringing child abuse prevention information to your business or group, contact the CAP Council at capcouncil@lacasacenter.org or call 517-548-1350. You also can find more information at lacasacenter.org.
