April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

April Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Pinwheels for Prevention® campaign uses a simple child’s toy to remind us that we all play an important role in children’s lives. During April, local agencies and child advocates will be raising awareness about the importance of taking an active role in promoting healthy child development, positive parenting practices and community action so that child abuse and neglect never occur. Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties will be proudly displaying pinwheels to serve as a reminder that we all have a responsibility to ensure children grow up healthy and safe in our communities. To find out more about how you can get involved, please visit www.heartlandforchildren.org or www.preventchildabusefl.org. See Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

  • Sponsor a pinwheel garden or vase bouquet display
  • Display information/signage at your place of business
  • Help spread the message about the importance of preventing child abuse and how people can help
  • Help disseminate parenting information (caregiver guides and family advocacy guides are available free of cost on www.preventchildabusefl.org)
  • Follow Prevent Child Abuse Florida and Heartland for Children on social media
  • Include a prevention message in your newsletter/website using language from the media toolkit
  • Help identify opportunities to post information, display pinwheels, play TV spots, etc.

APRIL 2021 PINWHEELS FOR PREVENTION EVENTS SCHEDULE      

  • April 1, 8:00am - Highlands County Pinwheels for Prevention Celebration at the Courthouse lawn, 430 S Commerce Ave, Sebring, 33870
  • April 1, 8:30am - Hardee County Board of County Commissioners Proclamation at 412 West Orange Street Room 102, Wauchula
  • April 1, All Day - Participate in Wear Blue Day to show your support of child abuse prevention efforts throughout Florida. Share photos of yourself going blue for prevention on social media
  • April 5, 3:00pm - City of Lakeland Proclamation at City Hall 228 S Massachusetts Ave, Lakeland, 33801
  • April 6, 9:00am - Highlands County Board of County Commissioners Proclamation at the Highlands County Government Center, 600 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, 33870
  • April 6, 5:30pm - Highlands County School Board Proclamation at the School Board Administration Building, Boggus Board Room, 426 School Street, Sebring, 33870
  • April 6, 9:00am - Polk County Board of County Commissioners Proclamation at County Commission Chambers, 330 W. Church St., Bartow, 33830
  • April 12, 6:00pm - City of Winter Haven Proclamation at City Hall, 451 Third Street NW, Winter Haven, 33881
  • April 22, 5:00pm - Hardee County School Board Proclamation at the Hardee County School Board Office, 1009 N. 6th Ave, Wauchula, 33873
  • April 27, 5:00pm - Polk County School Board Proclamation at the Polk County School Board Offices, 1915 S Floral Avenue, Bartow 33830