Pinwheels Campaign launches in April to benefit Child Abuse Prevention Council

Look for blue pinwheels throughout Livingston County this April when residents, organizations and businesses join the “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign, which is hosted by LACASA Center’s CAP (Child Abuse Prevention) Council.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the CAP Council is planning several prevention and awareness activities throughout the month.

“The pinwheel is a happy, carefree symbol that reminds us that all children deserve a great childhood,” said CAP Council Coordinator Holly Naylor. “We planted over a hundred community pinwheel gardens in Livingston County last year. Our goal is to have more gardens every year so that we can reach more people and inspire more conversations and awareness.”

The CAP Council will host its annual “Plant a Pinwheel Celebration” event Wednesday, April 3, 2019, to launch CAP Month in Livingston County. Members of the community are invited to help plant a pinwheel garden during this ceremony, which will take place at noon at the Howell Carnegie Library, located at 314 W. Grand River Ave., in downtown Howell.

The Plant a Pinwheel Celebration will feature the Fifth Grade Choir from Voyager Elementary School in Howell. Slated speakers include LACASA President & CEO, Bobette Schrandt, and Elementary Administrative Support Coordinator for Howell Public Schools, Kari Naghtin.

This year’s event also will include the presentation of CAP’s annual Champion for Children award. This award recognizes someone who goes above and beyond to make Livingston County a wonderful place to grow up and thanks them for their dedication to our kids.

“The Power of One is the theme of CAP Month,” said Naylor. “We want to let everyone know that they can be a part of creating happy and safe childhoods for our kids through one action, one choice, one conversation, or one donation.”

There are ways to recognize CAP Month beyond the Plant a Pinwheel Celebration. LACASA’s CAP Council is offering a “Home Pinwheel Garden Kit” and a “Pinwheel Bouquet” for the suggested donations of $20 and $5. CAP hopes that the home kits will expand the campaign into local neighborhoods and also will raise funds to expand abuse and neglect prevention efforts in Livingston County.

Pinwheel garden kits and bouquets are available at LACASA’s unique resale boutique, the LACASA Collection, 120 W. Highland Rd, Kroger Plaza, in Howell.

Naylor also invites community members to join the CAP Council in Lansing on April 25, 2019, for Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day. “People from around the state will gather on the Capital steps to show our support for children and families,” Naylor said. “It is a powerful thing to see so many people willing to come together in order to protect our kids.”

Other CAP Month events include opportunities for the public to become directly involved in protecting children. A “Stewards of Children” workshop will be offered on Tuesday, April 30 at 9 a.m. Stewards of Children is an evidence-based program that teaches adults how to recognize, respond to, and prevent child sexual abuse. This two-and-a-half-hour workshop is free, and will be held at LACASA Center. Registration is required.

“The CAP Council is always willing to bring information about abuse and neglect prevention to any group or location,” said Naylor. “Not just in April, but throughout the year. Prevention is a year-round effort. Please reach out and let us know how we can partner with you and your organization or business to help educate or support your own prevention efforts.”

LACASA’s CAP Council is the designated Michigan Children’s Trust Fund local council for Livingston County. CTF is the only statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Each year, CTF provides grant funding for programs run by local councils across the state, including LACASA’s CAP Council.

For questions about any CAP activities or events, contact the CAP Council at hnaylor@lacasacenter.org or call 517-548-1350.


Ways You Can Help

LACASA’s CAP Council encourages local residents to get involved in efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Livingston County Children. The following tips from the national “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign are easy for everyone to implement:

  • Be a friend to a parent you know. Ask how their children are doing. Draw on your own experiences to provide reassurance and support. If a parent seems to be struggling, offer to babysit or run errands, or just lend a friendly ear. Show you understand.

  • Be a friend to a child you know. Remember their names. Smile when you talk with them. Ask them about their day at school. Send them a card in the mail. Show you care.

  • Talk to your neighbors about looking out for one another’s children. Encourage a supportive spirit among parents in your apartment building or on your block. Show that you are involved.

  • Give your used clothing, furniture and toys to a family in need. This can help relieve the stress of financial burdens that parents sometimes take out on their kids.

  • Volunteer your time and money for programs in your community that support children and families.


 

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The Livingston Post is the only locally owned, all-digital information and opinion site in Livingston County, Mich. It was launched by award-winning journalists who were laid off from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus by Gannett Co. Inc. in 2009.