Pinwheel garden set up at courthouse to bring awareness

CLAY COUNTY-Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan and City of Celina Mayor Luke Collins signed a proclamation last week declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month here locally alongside Stephens Center staff to bring awareness to the beneficial campaign.

They also set up a pinwheel garden at the Historic Clay County Courthouse in recognition of the effort to keep children safe and advocate for the cause.

“The blue pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention in the U.S., representing the happy, healthy, and carefree childhood every child deserves,” the Stephens Center said on their Facebook page.  “Launched by Prevent Child Abuse America in 2008, the symbol reflects ‘childlike whimsy’ and community commitment to preventing child abuse.

“This is Child Abuse Prevention Month!  Child abuse prevention can only happen in partnership.  It is not the work of one person or one organization alone, it takes community, cross-sector collaboration, and a shared commitment to listening to families and investing in the supports they need.”

The Stephens Center staff, which includes Mari’e Gilpatrick, Brandy Denson, Tiffany Smith Craighead , and Dawn White Tidwell, visited other people who they said “keep our kids safe and advocate for kids and families daily” during their visit.

In addition to Reagan and Collins, they posed for photos with various public officials to help spread their message, along with officials at all three county schools, the local health department, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, the sheriff’s office, Clay County EMS, LBJC Head Start, and others.

“Thank you everyone for showing that you are supporting health and happy children for Child Abuse Prevention Month,” Stephens Center officials said.  “Please remember if you see something, say something.  Help us make all childhoods happy & healthy!”

For more information about the Stephens Center, visit Facebook.com/Stephens.Center.