ID Pinwheel Plantings Nurture Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect
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April 14, 2009
Mountain Home, ID – Pinwheels have been popping up in yards all around the state. The blue-and-silver toys may be whimsical, but they're being 'planted' for a very serious purpose, as part of the "Pinwheels for Prevention" campaign to draw attention to the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
A new crop of about 200 pinwheels adorns the entrance to Mountain Home Air Force Base, one for each child born at the base last year. The Idaho Children's Trust Fund supplies the pinwheels as conversation-starters. Connie Powers, family advocacy outreach manager for the 366th Medical Operations Squadron, says it's working.
"This pinwheel represents the bright future that children have. It reflects positive things. It's all about being in the moment with your child."
Prevention programs at the Air Force base include family education and support groups, says Powers, and similar programs are available statewide. Their Dad's Class for fathers-to-be is especially popular and effective, she adds.
"The research says, if dads connect with their babies during pregnancy, the chances of them attaching and bonding to their child are much higher."
April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, and Idahoans can make a voluntary donation to prevention programs on their state income tax forms, due this week.
In all, the Idaho Children's Trust Fund plans to display 19,000 pinwheels this month, one for every Idaho youngster. Learn more about "Pinwheels for Prevention" online, at http://idahochildrenstrustfund.state.id.us.