Traveling through the area, you might have noticed blue and silver pinwheels popping up outside. They are “Pinwheels For Prevention,” signs of support for Child Abuse Prevention month.
April is also Sexual Assault Awareness month, and groups across the county are hoping to educate the public about services available for victims of child and sex abuse, as well as how abuse affects families.
Norwich City and New York State Police, BOCES Pre-school, Sidney Federal Credit Union, the Children’s Center and day care providers in Greene and Sherburne are just some of the organizations to put up lawn signs and spinning pinwheels.
According to Catholic Charities Community Educator June McIntyre-Georgia, more than 400 pinwheel coloring sheets have been handed out for children to color. Price Chopper has coloring sheets for customers checking out, and they’re also taking donations for the state-wide campaign.
Why pinwheels?
The pinwheel represents Prevent Child Abuse America’s efforts to change the way the nation thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur, the group’s website states.
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Catholic Charities’ Crime Victims Program is sponsoring a lantern making workshop from 6 to 8:30 p.m., April 29 at the Norwich Family YMCA. The “Chenango County Lanterns of Light - Push Back the Dark” class will be taught by nationally renowned willow artist Bonnie Gale. Gale will show the class how to create lanterns using tissue paper, willow branches and a small candle. The class is open to everyone and free of charge, with all materials provided by Catholic Charities. Following the workshop, the lanterns will be lit in a ceremony that is dedicated to shining light on the problem of sexual violence, explained McIntyre-Georgia.
The Crime Victims Program provides temporary shelter and housing to victims of domestic violence and their dependent children. Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Crime Victims Program Director Dan Auwarter said 40 adults and 57 children in Chenango County were provided with 1,320 nights of room and board in 2010 as part of the program.
He also said there were 945 reports of child abuse recorded last year that ultimately affected 1,655 children.
Catholic Charities also operates a women’s support group for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Those interested in participating in the group may contact the crime victims’ office at 334-3532.
The Crime Victim Program also has a volunteer-operated, 24-hour crisis hotline at 336-1101. The volunteers have received at least 30 hours of training and cover more than 750 hours on the hotline a month, dealing with issues of rape, sexual assault, stalking and domestic abuse. Emergency calls should be directed to 911.