Blue pinwheels highlight child abuse prevention in West Jordan

WEST JORDAN — Thousands of blue pinwheels spinning outside the West Jordan Justice Court are serving as a powerful reminder for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Advocates say the display represents the importance of prevention efforts and the resources available to families before crises escalate.

From a distance, the pinwheels may appear decorative. But organizers say each one represents a much more serious reality affecting children across Utah.

“We have about three thousand. Each pinwheel represents three children who have been confirmed cases of child abuse in the last year,” said Lori Cox, executive director of the Family Support Center.

According to child welfare advocates, the visual is meant to raise awareness about child abuse prevention and connect families with support services designed to reduce stress and prevent neglect or abuse.

Law enforcement leaders say these types of cases are among the most difficult they encounter.

“Children don’t have a way to protect themselves or adults to care for them and it’s one of the hardest crimes for our officers to investigate,” said West Jordan Police Chief Jeremy Robertson.

Robertson added that prevention programs are critical because police often become involved after harm has already occurred.

“When we get involved it’s too late to participate in preventing child abuse before it happens,” Robertson said.

Organizations like the Family Support Center say their focus is providing families with tools and resources before situations reach that point.

“Our goal is to look at prevention and give parents the tools to raise their kids better either through education, home visiting programs, or even have a crisis nursery to take kids to at a moment of stress,” Cox said.

Groups like Prevent Child Abuse Utah, the Family Support Center, and the Utah Human Services Alliance offer programs focused on prevention, family support, and parenting resources throughout the state.

Advocates say increasing awareness about these programs is a key part of Child Abuse Prevention Month and can help families find support before problems turn into emergencies.

Organizers say their message is simple: Support for families today can help protect children tomorrow.

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Child abuse resources:

• Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).

Help with Children

Those who feel stressed out with a child, who need a break or who feel like they need counseling or training can reach out to one of the following agencies:

• The Family Support Center has 15 locations throughout the state and offers a free crisis nursery for parents who have to keep appointments or who are stressed out. They also offer counseling and family mentoring. Call 801-955-9110 or visit familysupportcenter.org/contact.php for more information.
• Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides home visiting in Weber, Davis, and Box Elder counties. Parent Educators provide support, education, and activities for families with young children. Their statewide education team offers diverse trainings on protective factors, digital safety, bullying, and child sex trafficking. They are available for in-person or virtual trainings and offer free online courses for the community at pcautah.org.
• The Office of Home Visiting works with local agencies to provide home visits to pregnant women and young families who would like to know more about being parents. Home visitors are trained and can provide information about breastfeeding, developmental milestones, toilet training, nutrition, mental health, home safety, child development, and much more. Find out more at homevisiting.utah.gov.
• The Safe Haven law allows birth parents in Utah to safely and anonymously give up custody of their newborn child at any hospital in the state, with no legal consequences and no questions asked. The child’s mother can drop off the child, or the mother can ask someone else to do it for her. The newborns should be dropped off at hospitals that are open 24 hours a day. Newborns given up in this manner will be cared for by the hospital staff, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services will find a home for the child. For more information, visit utahsafehaven.org or call the 24-hour hotline at 866-458-0058.