By Sarah Gray
Managing Editor
The pinwheel – a child’s toy and whirligig meant to bring enjoyment to children – is also now a symbol of their unheard voices.
Since 2014, Pinwheels for Prevention efforts began in Saline County, and on Friday, April 5, that effort continued.
“The only way that change can and will happen is if we have a community that stands together for those who cannot stand up for themselves,” Whitney O’Bryan, outreach coordinator for Marshall Public Schools, told a crowd on the Saline County Courthouse lawn.
A pinwheel garden of 462 of the toys was created on and near the courthouse steps Friday. Each pinwheel represents a child who was reported as possibly abused or neglected last year through a hotline call – an increase from 2022.
“… it has been great to see our local businesses and community members come together and show their support,” O’Bryan continued. “It is something we need to continue all year long.
The crowd celebrated April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Marshall Mayor Vince Lutterbie and Saline County Southern District Commissioner Monte Fenner presented official proclamations to recognize the month locally.
“… we all have a responsibility as individuals, neighbors, community members and citizens of Saline County to help create healthy, safe and nurturing experiences for children,” Fenner and Lutterbie read. “… and whereas safe and healthy childhood help produce confident and successful adults, and whereas child abuse and neglect often occur when people find themselves in stressful situations without community resources and don’t know how to cope …”
The proclamations continued to say: “… the majority of child abuse cases stem from situations and conditions that are preventable in an engaged and supportive community … child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making sure every family has the support they need and deserve to raise their children in a healthy environment … together we can create a change for the better. … no one person can do anything, but everyone can do something. Prevention programs succeed because of partnerships between agencies, schools, religions organizations, law enforcement, elected leaders, and the community …”
Alyssa Silkwood, a prevention worker for the Department of Social Services Chidren’s Division, stated that Missouri is fourth from the bottom on how many children have come into care.
“The Governor looked at this and thought that was astronomically way to (high) of a number,” she said. “He allocated 100 positions for prevention to try to help the children and those families.
Silkwood’s position as a prevention worker is one of those 100 positions. She stated she tries to meet people where they are currently at in their situation.
“(It’s) trying to be proactive instead of reactive,” she said. “… something I can help the family with without them having to be directly involved with the Children’s Division, alternative care. Four hundred and fifty hotlines were made in Saline County. We really, really need to start working with these families.”
Associate Circuit Judge Hugh Harvey also made a few comments Friday morning, commending the Juvenile Office in Saline County, as well as the Children’s Division.
“The work they do is underappreciated, dramatically,” he told the crowd. “They work for small pay, long hours, and they go into homes – I wouldn’t touch it. To all of you that do that, we appreciate it.”
Harvey also mentioned a seminar planned for September that is mandated by Governor Mike Parson regarding sequential intercept mapping. The Sequential Intercept Model was conceptualized as an approach to link people with services in an effort to prevent them from further getting involved with the criminal justice system.
“I hope you’ll take it seriously and come to that, because the idea is to deal with mental health, drug addiction, just issues in the home early without court intervention,” he said. “Let’s go another way. Let’s see if we can make some changes in this county.”
Salt Fork YMCA is one organization currently working to be proactive. Executive Director Kirk Alexander noted they have the “5 Days of Action” campaign, and asked the crowd to participate.
“The YMCA has made a huge commitment about protecting children,” he said. “That really is the cornerstone of who we are and what we do every day. … and we are asking you to support us and assist us with signing your name to the pledge to recognize and report and respond.”
Community members can also follow what the Y is doing on Facebook and scan a QR code to pledge their dedication to reporting possible child abuse and neglect.
