'Pinwheels for Prevention' on display in downtown Mansfield
April 15, 2010
MANSFIELD, Ohio -- On a sunny spring morning in downtown Mansfield, 2,748 shiny blue pinwheels attracted community attention to the problem of child abuse and neglect in Richland County.
Richland County Children Services joined forces with local community and civic leaders during a special presentation April 15 launching the annual "Pinwheels for Prevention" campaign that has become the local cornerstone for National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
(Click here to view a photo gallery from the event.)
Dozens of residents, including agency employees, gathered on the lawn of the Richland County Courthouse, where the pinwheels will be on display for the next two weeks.
"As you look around the courthouse lawn today, please allow me to save you the trouble of counting (the pinwheels)," said Carl Hunnell, communications supervisor for RCCS. "We placed 2,748 pinwheels in the ground here last night, each one noting a child who may have been abused or neglected in Richland County in 2009.
"It was easily the busiest year in the 126-year history of our agency," Hunnell said.
"The horrifying news is that so many Richland County children suffered last year through no fault of their own. The good news is our agency received more than 7,200 phone calls last year, each from an adult willing to stand up for the life and safety of a child," Hunnell said.
"We thank each and every adult who acted on behalf of these children," he said.
Proclamations announcing "Pinwheels for Prevention Day" and "Child Abuse Prevention Month" were presented by Richland County and the City of Mansfield.
Richland County Commissioner Gary Utt spoke on behalf of the commissioners, including Tim Wert and Ed Olson.
"(We) urge all citizens to report suspected child abuse and to support Children Services, law enforcement, the legal community and the courts in their efforts to assess, investigate, adjudicate and oversee the safety of children and treatment for families in which abuse has occurred," Utt said.
Mansfield police Capt. Marijan Grogoza spoke on behalf of Mayor Donald Culliver, who was out of town.
"When the well-being of children and families becomes the priority of everyone in our community, the number of child abuse and neglect incidences will decrease," said Grogoza, who also praised the agency social workers in attendance. "You are down in the trenches with us and we want to make sure you know the police department appreciates your efforts."
Rebecca Getson, domestic violence advocate from the local Domestic Violence Shelter, said RCCS referred 500 cases of domestic violence to the shelter in 2009. She spoke briefly about the "Choose Your Partner Carefully" campaign the shelter is conducting in partnership with Children Services.
Anyone wishing to report suspected child abuse or neglect can call the Richland County Children Services 24/7 hotline at 419-774-4100.
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