‘Planting’ Pinwheels for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention

Children’s Justice Centers across Hawaii will be “planting” pinwheels in observance of April’s Child Abuse and Awareness and Prevention Month.

“The pinwheels serve as a reminder that child abuse and neglect is happening in our community and represents hope, healing and justice for children,” the centers said in a press release.

The Children’s Justice Centers are programs of the Hawaii State Judiciary which brings together a multidisciplinary team of professionals who coordinate investigations of child abuse and neglect.

They strive to provide a warm, homelike setting whwere children can feel as comfortable and safe as possible while being interviewed about reports of child abuse, sex abuse and as witnesses to crimes.

The five centers in Hawaii last year served more than 1,100 victims of child abuse, including serious physical abuse and sexual abuse, or those who witnessed a crime were served at one of the. Since 1988, when the first CJC opened, more than 30,000 children have been served in Hawaii.

On the windward side of the Big Island, CJC staff and partners and community volunteers will be planting pinwheels at 10 a.m. Wednesday at 1290 Kinoole St. in Hilo. The event is sponsored by the East Hawaii Coalition to Prevent Child Abuse, the state Department of Health, the CJC-East Hawaii and Friends of the CJC-East Hawaii.

In West Hawaii, the event will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 14, at 77-6403 Nalani Street in Kailua-Kona. It will be sponsored by the Children’s Justice Center of West Hawaii and the Interagency Advisory Committee.

For information, call the Hawaii State Judiciary Communications & Community Relations Office at 808-539-4909.