Redding non-profit sets up display for Child Abuse Awareness month
REDDING, Calif. — Friday, Apr. 1, marked the start of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Decked out in blue shirts—the color of the month—Pathways to Hope teamed up with Redding Rancheria to set up a display in recognition of the issue.
686 wooden cutouts of children holding a blue pinwheel, the symbol of the cause, were placed on the lawn in front of Win-River Mini Mart in Redding. So why the number 686? It's the number of substantiated child abuse cases in Shasta County in 2021. This is a cross-country campaign, so many cities will set up displays similar to this during the month of April.
But the issue is especially relevant where we live.
"Unfortunately, child abuse is pretty significant in our county," said Tracy Edwards, CEO of Redding Rancheria. "We are three times the high of the state average [for abuse cases], so that's something that we're not proud of."
Edwards explained that the cutouts were all painted and decorated by local children, Pathways to Hope staff, and Redding Rancheria staff. Even Redding Rancheria's tribal staff took time during a meeting to help paint some.
"So many different people went into putting these pinwheels together."
But raising awareness for this cause won't just end on Apr. 1. For the Rancheria, they will light up their buildings blue every night of April. And the Sundial Bridge will also be lit up blue on Apr. 1-2. "We just want to put it out there and make everybody aware."
Michael Burke, executive director for Pathways to Hope, said common indicators of child abuse are markings on the child or a change in personality. In the event you notice these, it's recommended you ask the kid "safe questions," before calling child welfare services.
The abuse allegation numbers from 2021 were recently released. In Shasta County, there were 3,294 reports (not confirmed cases) of child abuse last year, up by over 300 in 2020. In comparison, there were 1,276 allegations of child abuse in Tehama County last year.
The cutouts will, ideally, remain on display off South Bonnyview for the entire month.
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