Mahoning County Children Services plants pinwheels for child abuse prevention
Last year, Mahoning County Children Services received 4,920 reports of child abuse and neglect; out of those reports, 1,174 cases were opened for assessment or investigation.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect happening in communities.
Advocates encourage community members to learn the warning signs of child abuse and how to report it to the authorities when suspected.
This week, volunteers helped the Mahoning County Children’s Services set up a display of hundreds of pinwheels on the front lawn of Boardman Park for National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Every year, volunteers, such as the Boardman High School’s Emerging Leaders Club and “Bear” and “Bootstrap” of Bikers Unbroken, Ohio Chapter,’ plant pinwheels in the Pinwheel Garden Display.
Pinwheels are a symbol across the country for child abuse prevention. The pinwheels represent an individual who provided a voice and advocated on behalf of an abused or neglected child.
The pinwheels will be on display through April 30.
There will be a Pinwheels for Prevention luncheon with Regina Alston as the keynote presenter at 11 a.m. April 10 at the Boardman Park Rotary Room at the park.
Alston is a former foster youth who was in foster care through Mahoning County Children Services until she was adopted. She’s the CEO and founder of Lena’s Adventures and the author of several children’s books about foster care and adoption through the eyes and adventures of the main character, Lena.
There will also be a performance by the Youngstown State University student jazz ensemble during the luncheon, which is co-hosted by the Child Advocacy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital in Mahoning Valley.
Wearing blue on April 10
“Wear Blue Day” is April 10; it’s a statewide awareness campaign that encourages all Ohioans to wear blue to work, school and community events.
It’s a way to raise awareness for preventing child abuse and neglect.
To report child abuse, call the Ohio Child Abuse Report Hotline: 855-O-H-CHILD (855-642-4453).
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services launched this automated telephone directory that links callers directly to an Ohio Children Services agency or law enforcement office in their County.
The Mahoning County Children Services call line is (330) 941-8888, and it is available 24/7.
Refer to the agency’s frequently asked questions about reporting child abuse/neglect.
