One out of three girls and one out of five boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18, according to Enough Abuse—a national campaign to end child sexual abuse. At CHS, we use the Enough Abuse curriculum to teach about child abuse statewide, helping kids, caregivers and staff recognize and respond to warning signs. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To help spread the word, CHS has hosted events and activities throughout the month to raise awareness.
If you’ve driven past the Shelter for Family Safety recently, you may have noticed dozens of blue pinwheels lining the fences and sidewalks. Parenting Coordinator Angela Hyde received the blue pinwheels from the Department of Social Services to display in the community and raise awareness about ending child abuse and sexual assault. Last week, shelter staff met to zip-tie the pinwheels to fence posts and place them in the ground before freezing rain and snow made it difficult.
Hopefully, dozens of blue pinwheels will spark the question, “What is this about?” Educating the public helps people recognize the signs of child abuse and sexual assault. It’s how we prevent harm, and we respond with care and accountability when we see it.
“No one expects to need this knowledge, yet the reality is staggering: nearly every minute, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted, and every nine minutes that someone is a child. These numbers underscore why awareness matters and why our presence matters,” said Kate Feilmeier, Program Director at Shelter. “Showing up through a display of blue pinwheels is just one small way we show survivors that they are not alone, that there is hope and that we are here to help and provide safety.”
Education is important, which is why CHS will be holding a few different trainings this month about recognizing signs of abuse. Child Advocacy Center Assistant Director Jessica Broullire hosts these trainings. She said these trainings are beneficial to everyone.
“Awareness trainings turn concern into action. They help adults recognize signs of abuse, respond with calm support in the moment and follow through with clear reporting steps,” said Jessica. “Protecting children means knowing how to act immediately and who to involve.”
CHS will also be participating in Denim Day on Wednesday, April 29. Staff are encouraged to wear denim as a visible show of solidarity with survivors of sexual assault.
Denim Day began after an Italian court overturned a sexual assault conviction because the survivor had been wearing tight denim jeans. The court argued that the jeans were too difficult to remove without the survivor’s assistance—an example of victim-blaming that sparked international outrage. Advocates responded by wearing denim to stand with the survivor and to challenge myths and misconceptions that continue to silence victims.
Preventing child abuse and sexual assault is more than a goal—it’s our mission. As mandatory reporters, we all have the knowledge and responsibility to protect our clients and prevent trauma. We are grateful to all CHS staff for turning our mission into reality.