National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Pinwheel Gardens Across Oregon Highlight National Awareness Campaign

PORTLAND - Bringing awareness to National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a team from CARES Northwest "planted" bright blue and silver pinwheels in the Emanuel Children's Hospital's Healing Garden. Pinwheel gardens highlight National Child Abuse Prevention Month and represent the effort to raise awareness of child abuse prevention and support public policy that prioritizes prevention right from the start.

"We hope this Child Abuse Prevention Month display helps educate the community about the importance of supporting children and families and about the many ways CARES Northwest contributes," said Debby Kernan, Legacy Health System's Prevention & Volunteer Programs Coordinator.

The "pinwheel team" included Kevin Dowling, Program Manager; Sally Blackwood, Intake Counselor and Prevention program presenter; Sandy Nipper, Safety Store and Period of PURPLE Crying programs; and Susan Lindauer, Executive Director of Children's Trust Fund of Oregon (CTFO). Also, other Legacy colleagues who helped make this event a success included: Teresia Hazen, master healing gardener, and volunteers; Maegan Vidal, Legacy PR; and Pam Medley, Legacy Creative Services. Dr. Dan Leonhardt, CARES Northwest Medical Examiner, served as spokesman for the awareness project and was interviewed by KOIN Channel 6.

CARES Northwest is a collaborative effort between Kaiser Permanente, The Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Providence Health & Services. Started in 1987, it is one of the oldest organizations of it's kind in the US and the first in Oregon to provide a medically neutral setting for medical evaluations of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence exposure.

Child abuse intervention and prevention takes a community of committed people to accomplish the goals and Pinwheels are increasingly being used to help educate communities about the importance of supporting children and families. 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.

Nearly 900,000 pinwheels have been displayed nationwide since April 2008. We invite you to join us in showing your support for children’s healthy development- the foundation for community and economic growth. Visit a pinwheel garden near you, today.

Bright blue and silver pinwheels in the Emanuel Children's Hospital's Healing Garden: left to right; Debby Kernan, Sandy Nipper, Dr. Dan Leonhardt, Kevin Dowling, Sally Blackwood and Susan Lindauer.

Volunteers in Pendleton and Hermiston Sow Seeds of Awareness by Planting Pinwheel Gardens

EASTERN OREGON — Bright blue pinwheels are spinning across the state. In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, volunteers for the city of Pendleton, Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Papa Murphy’s, Umatilla County Commission on Children and Families and Pioneer Relief Nursery planted a garden of 500 pinwheels in front of the Pendleton City Hall during the Pinwheels for Prevention event. Sponsored by the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon and Prevent Child Abuse Oregon, this is the third year the event has been held locally.

In Hermiston, Good Shepherd Health Care also sponsored a pinwheel display on the green of the Good Shepherd Health Care complex. The pinwheel garden was created by volunteers working in collaboration with Prevent Child Abuse America, The Children's Trust Fund of Oregon, Oregon Commission on Children and Families, and Umatilla County Commission on Childrens and Families.

Volunteers show support for Child Abuse Prevention in Pendleton in their bright, shiny pinwheel garden.

Fun for everyone, all ages take part in planting the Pendleton Pinwheel Garden.

In Hermiston, volunteers show their support at the Good Shepherd Health Care Pinwheel Garden.

These volunteers in Hermiston demonstrate that you are never too young to plant a pinwheel garden.