From staff reports

Colorful pinwheels created a cheerful blur of pink and yellow against the spring green grass at Coleman Community Center. But the community leaders, child advocates and law enforcement personnel gathered for ceremonies marking April as Child Abuse Awareness Month knew their meaning was anything but cheerful.

Each of the 909 pinwheels represented a child maltreatment report investigated in Troup County last year.

Twin Cedars Youth Services and the Troup County Department of Family and Children Services served as hosts for this year’s event.

Twin Cedars director Mike Angstadt explains that the pinwheels are a symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention nationwide.

“The pinwheel represents America’s efforts to change the way our nation thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur.

“It represents our efforts to ensure the healthy development of children nationwide, while recognizing that child development is a building block for community development and economic development. Shining in the sun, the pinwheel is reflective of the bright future all children deserve and our belief that getting it right early is less costly than trying to fix it later,” he said.

Patrick Crews, board chairman of Twin Cedars, welcomed the approximately 100 participants who heard a keynote address by Mark A. Washington, assistant commissioner of Georgia’s Department of Human Resources. Washington emphasized the importance of family for Georgia’s youth in foster care.

Angstadt outlined prevention services offered at the Coleman Community Center, the former Coleman Library and Coleman Community Health Clinnic, renovated last year by the Callaway Foundation for use by Twin Cedars.

Prevention programs offered through Twin Cedars include Comprehensive Awareness Program, Parents as Teachers, and Circle of Care. In addition, mental health counseling and the Office of the Troup County Prevention Coalition are located inside the Center.

LaGrange Public Safety Director Lou Dekmar provided an overview of additional services available in Troup County,

District Attorney Pete Skandalakis oversaw the signing of the County’s Child Abuse Protocol.

Child Abuse in Georgia

2007:

34,540 substantiated incidents of child maltreatment

28,734 substantiated incidents of child neglect

3,547 substantiated incidents of physical abuse

1,424 substantiated incidents of sexual abuse

693 substantiated incidents of emotional abuse

142 substantiated incidents of “other” abuse

74 percent of reports of child abuse were made by mandated reporters.

Research indicates that very young children (ages 3 and younger) are the

most frequent victims of child fatalities.

- 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18

-1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18

- 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet

- An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in

America today

- 90 percent of children who are sexually abused, are abused by a family member or

a close friend