AprilA month for children and families!

“We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children

for the future.”-President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Pinwheels for Prevention

You may have noticed our pinwheel garden in front of the school or at other schools and businesses around our community. The purpose of the pinwheel garden is to bring attention to the problem of child abuse. By planting a pinwheel garden we are telling everyone that we are committed to ending child abuse and violence in our community.

Pinwheel Gardens

Every 38 minutes a child is abused. Utah has the 8th highest number of substantiated

cases in the nation. In 2013 there were 19,068 cases of child abuse

reported in Utah. Of those, 9,233 were confirmed. Child abuse costs Utahans $2.84 million per day

or over $1 billion annually. The national cost is $80 billion annually.(Hospitalization, law enforcement, child welfare, special education, juvenile an adult court, homelessness, etc.)

Child Abuse Facts

Most adults want to protect children and keep them safe. You are in charge of your body and keeping it safe. You have the right to say “No!” to any touch that makes

you feel uncomfortable. Remember: You are valuable just because you are you. Let an adult you trust know if someone is hurting you on

purpose. Let your parents get to know your friends, whom you

hang out with, and what you are doing.

Thinking About Personal Safety

Recognize anything that makes you feel afraid, uncomfortable, or unsafe.

Get away from the situation or person. Report to a trusted adult.

(Parents, teachers, counselor, church leaders, law enforcement, etc.)

What To Do If You Are in An Unsafe Situation

Rates of physical and sexual child abuse are declining in Utah. Part of the decline is due to increased awareness through education. The Pinwheels program helps each of us know that child abuse is wrong. We should all be committed to ensuring every child grows up and has a safe childhood.

The Good News