(Green Bay, Wis.) – Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin, in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, is bringing back its annual “Pinwheels for Prevention” display in April to encourage all individuals and organizations to play a role in making our communities a better, safer place for children.

Throughout April, 144 pinwheels will be displayed outside Willow Tree Cornerstone Child Advocacy Center, an innovative program of Family Services, at 503 S. Monroe Avenue. Each pinwheel represents a child helped at the center so far in 2021. The Pinwheel represents the joys of childhood and promotes the awareness that ALL CHILDREN deserve to be safe and well.

“The main objective of Willow Tree is to provide a more compassionate response to children who have been abused, helping them heal from their traumatic experience and lead successful lives in the future,” said Kristie Sickel, Willow Tree program supervisor and child forensic interviewer.

Roughly 5,000 suspected cases of child abuse are reported in Brown County in a typical year. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the long-term impacts of child abuse and neglect can be profound and may endure long after abuse or neglect occurs. Family Services hopes the display will call attention to the importance of early intervention for victims, as well as prevention programs to ensure that parents have the proper knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children.

“We’re actually reaching out early to all new parents, ideally prenatally, who may need assistance and support in parenting,” said Julie Ferral, manager of the Healthy Families program for Family Services. “Whether it be by connecting them to a resource, providing education on healthy parenting, or providing them long-term support through intensive home visiting.”

To learn more about Family Services programs, make a donation, or donate to the Willow Tree wish list, please click here to visit our homepage.