Throughout the month of April, the northwest suburbs will be dotted with Blue Pinwheel Gardens in support of National Child Abuse Prevention Month with Shelter, Inc.’s child abuse prevention program Healthy Families leading the way.
April was proclaimed the National Child Abuse Prevention Month in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan, and in 1989, the blue ribbon became the official symbol beginning with a grandmother in Virginia whose young grandson had died of abuse at the hands of his parents.
While the epidemic of child abuse has increased since 1983 with 1 in 5 children being abused by the age of 18, the emphasis this April is on strengthening and supporting families and raising community awareness to prevent abuse. “Child abuse happens in every neighborhood, but it’s a topic no one wants to talk about,” said Carina H. Santa Maria, Shelter’s executive Director. “The more our community acknowledges the problem, the more children we can help.”
In the 23 years since Shelter’s Healthy Families began, no child in the program has ever been removed from their home due to allegations of abuse or neglect. The statistic is impressive as the program is aimed at first-time parents with multiple challenges and stressors making the family at risk for abuse.
Shelter’s website, www.shelter-inc.org, offers details and plenty of ways community members can show their support from joining corporations such as Zurich and Allstate by displaying a Blue Pinwheel Garden throughout the month, to participating in the family-friendly 5KRun/Walk 4 Kidz April 27th , “Wear Blue Day” April 5th, and many more.
“While progress is being made,” added Santa Maria, “no agency alone can end child abuse. It takes awareness, support, and the advocacy of our community working together to keep our children safe.”
Besides their Healthy Families program, Shelter has three Foster Care programs, a Boy’s Group Home in Palatine, Jennings Girl’s Home in Schaumburg and Transitional Living Program for older adolescent males in Arlington Heights.
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Patricia Cinquini
Shelter, Inc.
847-590-6188
pcinquini@shelter-inc.org