A pinwheel garden was planted outside Little Flower Children and Family Services in Wading River Wednesday afternoon in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is observed annually in April.
“Each of these pinwheels that we plant today represents something powerful: the bright and joyful childhoods that every child deserves,” Little Flower President and CEO Corinne Hammons said. “The pinwheels spin with the wind, full of life and movement, just as our children should be: safe, loved, free to grow.”
Pinwheel gardens are a visual representation of child abuse prevention. “[I]t reminds us of the simple joys of childhood,” Hammons said.
“It’s a symbol of possibility — what’s possible within communities as we come together to protect and uplift children,” she added. “So today, as we plant these pinwheels, let them serve as a public promise — a promise to remain vigilant, to be voices for the voiceless, to support those who are struggling, and to create a world where every child is seen, heard and seen.
One in seven children in the United States experienced child abuse or neglect in 2023, although the number is likely higher because of underreporting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, 1,820 children in the U.S. died of abuse and neglect, according to the CDC. Children living in poverty experience more abuse and neglect at rates five times higher compared to families with a higher socioeconomic status, according to the CDC.
Little Flower is a nonprofit organization serving children, families and developmentally disabled adults. The Wading River campus has a residential treatment center that serves children with complex mental health needs, including trauma.
“This month of April is not only a time to raise awareness, but also time to take action, to listen more closely, support more fully and advocate more freely,” Hammons said. “Behind every statistic is a story — a child, a family. And the work we do is not just about prevention; it’s about hope, it’s about healing, it’s about ensuring that every child gets the chance to simply be a child.”
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