Pinwheels for Child Abuse Prevention

April is National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month

Reno, NV. April 1, 2019. The Washoe County Human Services Agency (HSA) Children’s Services Division is turning Washoe County blue this April for a good cause. HSA is calling on the community to join us in wearing blue clothing, ribbons and planting thousands of blue pinwheels throughout the community in April for National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. 

HSA received 6,943 reports of child abuse and/or neglect during Fiscal Year 2018. In addition, HSA has a 35 percent diversion rate from foster care, meaning the Agency helps finds homes for children by locating and screening relatives or fictive kin. The Agency’s first priority is protecting children that have been abused and/or neglected and placing them with relatives if possible.

“Our hope is that every time someone sees a blue pinwheel planted in the community they understand it represents a child our Agency needed to ensure was safe,” said HSA Director Amber Howell. “In addition to protecting children, HSA works diligently in assisting families in need of guidance, support and recovery. If the Agency can locate and screen relatives or fictive kin of an abused child, we place them with their families rather than foster care.” 

The media is invited to film pinwheels being placed outside the HSA building at 350 South Center St., from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2019. Media interviews will be available. 

Who: Washoe County Human Services Agency.

What: Video of pinwheels being placed outside the Human Services Agency building.

When: Tuesday, April 2, 2019, from 10 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Where: Human Services Agency located at 350 South Center St. Reno, NV.

Media Contact: Chris Ciarlo at Cciarlo@washoecounty.us  or 775-337-4500. 

Pinwheels will also be placed at the following locations throughout the first week of April:

• Washoe County Administration Complex
• Washoe County Health District
• Washoe County Sheriff’s Office
• Medical Examiner’s Office
• Washoe County Library System

Learn more about National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. 

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook  to help raise awareness by using #Pinwheels4Prevention. 

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