Whirligig Park goes blue for child abuse prevention

The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park pavilion will glow blue throughout April to bring awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Communities across the state, including Wilson, are supporting Children's Advocacy Centers of North Carolina's effort to raise awareness about child maltreatment, encourage reporting of child abuse and promote the vital role advocacy centers play in helping child abuse victims.

The pavilion will be among buildings, towers, parks and fountains in North Carolina that will glow with blue lights throughout April, officials said. The Wilson County Department of Social Services will also continue its annual effort by planting blue pinwheels in the park to symbolize child abuse prevention.

Alongside the pinwheels, Whirligig Park's pavilion will be lit blue using its existing lighting system. The lights will begin each evening for the entire month of April, said Stefanie Keen, marketing chair for the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum.

"The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park is a place where families come together, where children explore and where we welcome school groups for field trips and educational experiences," Keen said. "As a hub for community connection, we are happy to help raise awareness about child abuse prevention by lighting the pavilion blue and displaying pinwheels."

Children's Advocacy Centers of North Carolina provides statewide resources online to assist families of child abuse victims.

"The first step to getting victims of child abuse the help they need is to report the abuse," said Deana Joy, Children's Advocacy Centers of North Carolina executive director. "Everyone should be mindful of what's going on in the lives of children around them, and they should know that CACs (children's advocacy centers) are located across the state to provide the help, hope and healing that children need and deserve after the trauma of abuse."

In addition to Whirligig Park, several other locations will participate in the going blue initiative including Rocky Mount Mills Tower, the Durham Bulls Stadium (April home baseball games) and WRAL News Fountain in Raleigh.

Wilson County DSS will plant pinwheels at Whirligig Park at 2 p.m. Friday, April 4, for "Go Blue Day." The agency will also distribute pinwheels to various nonprofits, government agencies and businesses across Wilson.

'HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT'

Children's Advocacy Centers of North Carolina recently launched a campaign, "Hidden in Plain Sight." The campaign aims to shine a light on the signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect and how members of the public can help victims of child abuse.

"From wearing blue to turning community spaces blue, we want to get everyone's attention in April and bring heightened awareness year-round to the important role we all play in protecting children," Joy said. "We want to empower individuals with what they need to recognize and report child abuse."

EVERY ADULT IS A MANDATORY REPORTER

North Carolina law requires any adult or institution to report known or suspected child abuse to departments of social services and law enforcement. State law also provides immunity from liability for those who report suspected abuse in good faith. Reporting suspicions is critical. DSS officials say it's their job to investigate it, not the reporting party. Reporting could save a child's life.

HOW TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN WILSON

Call Wilson County DSS at 252-206-4000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Call 911 after business hours and on weekends and holidays. Child abuse and neglect reports should not be emailed or sent through the DSS website. Officials say all information reported to the agency is confidential. Information can be given anonymously. Officials will follow up on all accepted reports with DSS.

For more information about Children Advocacy Center's of North Carolina visit www.cacnc.org.