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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.
In the last ten[+] years, Heartland for Children has established strong community partnerships and effective programs that have positively impacted our tri-county area. Under their leadership, child abuse has decreased. This change has been a result of strong commitment to prevention and evidence based programs. Additionally, their focus on trauma focused care has made a tremendous impact on children and families that have experienced abuse, neglect, and out of home placements. Heartland for Children is the model of community based care for our state.
As a social worker who was involved in the transition to this model of care in our state, I fully support and endorse their continued work and leadership in Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties.
Mary Jo Plews - Former Executive Director, Healthy Start Coalition