They’re popping up in front yards, community events and down our Main Street!  They’re spinning in the winds of change blowing around the state and nation in April during Child Abuse Prevention Month.  They’re pinwheels and thousands of them have been distributed statewide by Prevent Child Abuse America as a demonstration of the fast-growing belief that we can prevent - not just intervene in - child abuse and neglect.  This marks Families Network’s annual commitment to participating in this nationwide effort.

The “Pinwheels for Prevention” movement is bringing the belief in prevention to life in a number of ways in communities around the state.  The movement is based on the belief that we must do more than simply respond to cases of abuse through prosecution and intervention—we need to provide programs and policies that focus on child development, engage communities and create conditions that allow parents to be the kinds of parents they want to be.  Programs provided by Families Network include strategies such as home visiting, parent education, child development screening, self-help support, and promoting community mental health services and substance abuse treatment.

“The point of Pinwheels for Prevention is to help educate the public about the problem of child abuse and get people to make a difference,” said Susan Giglio, Executive Director of Families Network of Western CT, Inc.  “Our primary prevention focus is on educating and engaging families before a crisis occurs.  We offer a number of programs - free of charge - to help parents and ensure safe, healthy environments for children.”

Pinwheels for Prevention is the grassroots signature campaign for PCAA and its 43 chapters nationwide.  The pinwheel has come to symbolize a person’s commitment to truly preventative measures, such as home visitation services, parent education and the overall re-prioritization of our policies, programs and resources to ensure that every child is provided with a healthy, safe and nurturing home and an involved, supportive and caring community.  Locally, this month-long endeavor culminates in our annual volunteer appreciation event, The Dr. Robert C. and Nancy Joy Luncheon, this year being held on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 from 11:30am-2:00pm at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury.