On Friday morning, local officials and agencies gathered in front of the Carson City Legislature for the annual pinwheel planting on the front lawn to honor Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Several speakers from local agencies and organizations were in attendance providing information that was both heartbreaking and hopeful as they discussed the importance of the awareness month.
Each year, the pinwheel “planting” takes place at the beginning of the month and they are left spinning as a symbol of the carefree childhood all children deserve, but many do not get to experience for themselves.
Local law enforcement agencies were represented by officials such as Sheriff Ken Furlong, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam and District Attorney Garrit Pruyt. Also in attendance were Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell who also read a proclamation sent by the governor, who did not attend; Assemblyman PK O’Neil; Executive Director Melanie McCormick for CASA of Carson City; Executive Director Jan Marson of the Carson City Rural Child Advocacy Center; and representatives from many other local and state agencies who came together to highlight the importance of child abuse prevention.
“We are all champions of our children today, tomorrow, and in the future, generations into the future,” Sheriff Furlong said. “It’s a statement of action, not just support. It’s a statement of actual action. Each one of you came here today — that’s an action. That’s a responsibility of us all, everywhere, all of the time. We cannot idly stand by and hope that child abuse goes away. We have to stand up against it. That’s what we’re here today to be a part of. By reaching out and pushing out our message, by standing up and saying that every child in every community is loved.”
Officials noted that across a nine month period last year, two children in Carson City and 14 in Washoe County died as a result of child abuse.
“Every person out there has an obligation to address that issue,” Assemblyman O’Neil said. “In the last nine months, 14 children in Washoe County and two in Carson City have died at the hands of child abuse. 14 in Washoe, two in Carson City. That is why we are here. That is what we need to address collectively — not one single agency, not one single person, not one single group.”
CAC Director Marson said that when it comes to abuse prevention, “Information of power.” She said that until services step in there are many children within our community who don’t know that what is happening to them or within their families is not normal, and it’s through advocacy and education that they are able to recognize when help is needed.
“We’re going to inoculate our community,” she continued. “Kids do not need to suffer. We’re going to get this right with everyone working together.”
DA Pruyt said that he is often asked what can people do to help, and his answer is the age-old advice of “If you see something, say something.” He said the inevitable follow-up question is, “but does that actually do anything?”
Pruyt said yes, it absolutely does. He gave an example of a case he worked on in Carson City several years ago in which a six month old baby was brought into the hospital after being ill. A doctor noticed that the baby had burns across its body, and through their training they were able to recognize that it was due to abuse rather than an accidental injury.
Pruyt said that agencies and family members acted swiftly and investigators were able to determine the mother’s boyfriend had been systematically burning the baby across their body during their short life thus far. The boyfriend was arrested, the baby’s father was contacted who moved to the area to take care of the child, and the boyfriend was persecuted and was sentenced to prison.
“So I can tell you that when you see something and you say something, things happen that need to happen,” Pruyt said.
Pruyt said that it’s just one case in which a single person reporting something they felt was “off” was able to save the life of a child being abused.
“This doesn’t mean danger is lurking around every corner, but there is an abused kid in every neighborhood in our community,” he said. “Be aware, see it, make a report, say something — it makes a difference.”
Many spoke about the need not only for awareness, but for action. Reporting suspected child abuse, registering to be a foster parent, or volunteering as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) are all specific actions anyone in the community can do to help support children who may be suffering. Through these actions, those children can learn to feel safe and supported by the community as a whole.
To learn more and access a number of resources for families, agencies and community members at large, please visit https://www.preventchildabusenevada.org/pinwheels-for-prevention/
