Pinwheels for Prevention: 19 years of child-abuse awareness
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WARREN -- For the 19th year, little blue pinwheels stretch across the front lawn of city hall in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Marilyn Pape, executive director of Trumbull County Children Services, said the pinwheels are meant to act as a childlike symbol, representing innocence and joy.
"People see it and they get amazed by it and it causes them to find out what is behind that symbol," Pape said.
Each of the 1,166 pinwheels across the city hall lawn represents one report of child maltreatment in Trumbull County in 2023.
Pape said the number of pinwheels has remained steady, close to 1,000 every year.
The theme of this year's Pinwheels for Prevention address was "see something, say something," especially during times when a child may be isolated.
"Each pinwheel, while it represents one report, also represents a person who stepped up and made that call, made a difference for that child," Pape said.
Warren Mayor Doug Franklin said the cycle of child abuse has "many layers."
Without intervention, those issues continue to grow.
"Obviously, that affects our young families and our young communities in several ways," he said. "Suicide, drug abuse, depression, a whole bunch of mental disorders, that they carry with them the rest of their lives."
Franklin called the Trumbull County Children Services board "critically important," and said they do lots of meaningful work with very little fanfare.
Franklin said the city and Trumbull County have a "true partnership" when it comes to combating child abuse.
"Usually, it's (Warren) Detective Nick Carney and our detective bureau who partners with the sheriff's office and are the enforcement arm, so to speak, of children's services," he said. "It's a true partnership between law enforcement, the social workers at children services and their management team."
During the presentation, an audience packed inside city hall heard from Trumbull County Family Court Administrative Judge Samuel Bluedorn, who said the court tries to partner with children services as much as it can.
"Child abuse comes in all forms," he said. "Psychological, physical and sexual. I know the theme is 'If you see it, report it.' That's about as simple as it can get."
Pape encouraged anyone who may suspect an instance of child abuse to reach out to Trumbull County Children Services.