Orange County Preparing for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April
By: Ashley Jacobs, Program Coordinator, Orange County Office on Youth
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. As it approaches, Orange County ’ s Office on Youth and Department of Social Services are partnering to help raise awareness of the role we can all play in ensuring great childhoods for children. Sadly, thousands of Virginia children suffer abuse and neglect each year. In 2020, every thirteen (13) days a child in the Commonwealth died as a result of neglect or abuse. This sobering statistic illustrates why it is so important that we each take steps to prevent such tragedy. Child abuse is rarely just one physical attack or a single instance of failure to meet a child ’ s most basic
needs. Usually, child abuse is a pattern of behavior that takes place over a period of time. If allowed to continue, the severity of the abuse often increases, it becomes more difficult to stop, and results in more serious injury to the child. Child Abuse Prevention Month activities across the Commonwealth, and in Orange County, will include awareness efforts with the support of “ Pinwheels for Prevention. ” The pinwheel is the shared symbol for child abuse prevention and reflects childhood hope, health, and happiness. County organizations and businesses will plant pinwheel “ gardens ” during the month of April to demonstrate Orange County ’ s commitment to preventing child abuse. The Orange County Department of Social Services and Office on Youth have partnered to sell and assemble small garden kits of pinwheels with signs that will display the Virginia Child Abuse Hotline: (800) 552 - 7096.
It is estimated that every eighty - one (81) minutes a child is abused or neglected in the Commonwealth of Virginia – it is important to know the warning signs. Several resources are available on the Families Forward (VA) webpage, including:
Signs of Child Abuse & Neglect | familiesforwardva
Report Child Abuse & Neglect in Virginia | familiesforwardva
As always, reports can be made via the Virginia Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 552 - 7096, twenty - four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. You are not required to give your name, but doing so may aid investigators. YOU can make a difference in the life of a child.
Page 3 | March, 2022
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter