AdventHealth pinwheel garden raises awareness of increased risks for child abuse during crises

Press release from AdventHealth Hendersonville:

Child abuse claims the lives of more than four children a day. 7-million children will be brought to the attention of Child Protective Services for child abuse this year. AdventHealth Hendersonville is participating in the Prevent Child Abuse America’s Pinwheels for Prevention® event by creating a pinwheel garden on the front lawn of our main campus and other locations, including the Believe Child Advocacy Center, and this comes at a very timely moment.

The risk for child abuse incidents to increase and go unreported during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic becomes dramatically higher. Most child abuse and neglect occurs in the home. With parents and caregivers confronted with daily, increasing financial, emotional and physical stressors due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Child Advocacy teams anticipate seeing increases in cases of abuse.

“Planning for the safety of our patients (clients) and staff are critical during this global crisis,” said Laura Phipps, PA-C with AdventHealth. “While stay at home orders and social distancing are important ways to reduce transmission of COVID-19, children being isolated from the outside world brings additional risks for child abuse & neglect.”

Phipps cares for children at the Believe Child Advocacy Center and provides forensic exams for victims of child abuse.

She goes on to share that teachers and school support staff make up the largest group of child abuse reporters, approximately one in five. With most schools across the country closed, our children are isolated from a most crucial, potentially life-saving protective factor. In addition, children are more vulnerable to the emotional impact of traumatic events that disrupt their daily lives.

Similarly, pediatricians and mental health practitioners have contact with our children outside the home. It has become necessary to defer most non-essential care during this global crisis, therefore fewer opportunities to recognize suspected child abuse.

Other contacts including non-parent relatives, friends, and neighbors are having less contact with our children and fewer opportunities to spot signs of abuse and act by making a report.

Phipps points out, “Child Advocacy Centers and their partners are our community’s first responders to child abuse and neglect. Some of these services are a matter of life and death for kids.”

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention. When we talk about child abuse, specifically we are speaking about Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Psychological/Emotional Abuse and Neglect.
The goal is to encourage families and communities to work together to prevent child abuse and neglect.

If you suspect a child is in danger or want to check on their safety during the pandemic social distancing, Phipps suggests using technology like Facetime or Google Hangouts to check in on them.

To report a possible case of abuse or neglect, contact your county Department of Social Services.

To learn more about the Pinwheels for Prevention program, please visit preventchildabuse.org.

For more on Believe Child Advocacy Center, please visit safelightfamily.org/child_advocacy.htm