The pinwheel serves as the national symbol for child abuse prevention.  It is a reflection of hope, health and safety – what SKIP (Supporting Kids in Prevention) and Prevent Child Abuse America, desire for children throughout Tama County and everywhere.      

Tama County Supporting Kids in Prevention (S.K.I.P.) invites you to wear blue on Monday, April 4.

On this day, individuals and organizations across Tama County will band together to make a visible commitment to preventing child abuse and supporting strong families and healthy children throughout the County.

One person can make a difference, and it can start with you! On April 4 wear blue anywhere to work, to school, a community event, the gym, and even at home. Invite your friends, family, students, co-workers or even your entire office to wear blue, too!

It doesn’t matter if it’s a blue shirt or blue suede shoes, the unified, community-wide act of wearing blue will help raise awareness that child abuse is preventable.

Pinwheels for Prevention is a nationwide public awareness campaign that puts a new spin on prevention. The campaign uses community activities and public policies to prioritize prevention right from the start, making sure child abuse and neglect never occur.

The pinwheel an uplifting symbol of childhood represents our efforts to ensure the healthy development of children, a time that should be filled with joy, nurturing and playfulness, while recognizing that child development is a building block for community and economic development. When children don’t have equal opportunities for growth and development, we put the future of our society at risk. A focus on innovative programming that lays the foundation for children’s safety, growth and development reduces the possibility of more serious problems occurring later. When we invest in healthy child development, we are investing in community and economic development.

The pinwheel is our primary vehicle for conveying that prevention works!

Child abuse is preventable, if people come together using their time, talents and resources to reach out to families across our towns and Tama County. By providing services and resources to caregivers, Tama County S.K.I.P. is dedicated to making Tama County a place where children can grow up safe, nurtured and able to reach their full potential.

Ideas for ways you can help prevent child abuse are: offer a neighbor, friend or family member a break from parenting, sometimes a short period away is all a parent needs to be refreshed. Contact your local legislator to ensure they support child abuse prevention funding and policies to make children safer in our county. Participate on a local organization, which works to prevent child abuse, such as S.K.I.P.

Every April during Child Abuse Prevention Month SKIP and many of its partner organizations around the county plant pinwheel gardens in honor of children in our communities.

If you would like more information about Tama County S.K.I.P, please contact Tama County Public Health & Home Care at 641-484-4788.