The pinwheel is recognized as the national symbol for child abuse prevention, and represents the happy, carefree child-hoods all children deserve. In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention month, you’ll find pinwheel gardens around our community throughout the month of April.
Each of us has the power to do at least one thing to prevent child abuse and neglect.
You can:
• Be a friend to parents you know. Ask how their children are doing.
• Volunteer as a mentor for children in your community.
• Advocate for children and families by contacting your elected officials. Let them know you support policies and programs that
promote healthy child development.
• Donate your time or money to child-serving organizations.
• Support the Stop Child Abuse and Neglect Council (SCAN), a group dedicated to coordinating child abuse prevention efforts in Ottawa County. (More information on opposite side.)
Stop Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) The SCAN council is a community-based effort to prevent child abuse and neglect in Ottawa County through the Michigan Children’s Trust Fund. SCAN helps to coordinate child abuse prevention efforts and to raise awareness in Ottawa County. We work together to strengthen families and communities so every child is raised in a happy and nurturing home.
The SCAN Council is convened by Arbor Circle, and includes representatives from the following organizations:
• Arbor Circle
• Bethany Christian Services / Safe Families for Children
• Center for Women in Transition
• Children’s Advocacy Center
• Developmental Enhancement Behavior Health
• Great Start Collaborative
• Great Start Parent Coalition
• Great Start to Quality
• Holland Rescue Mission
• InterCare Community Health Network / WIC Program
• Lakeshore Regional Entity
• Maternal Infant Health
• Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
• Ottawa Area Intermediate School District
• Ottawa County Community Mental Health
• Ottawa County Department of Public Health
To learn more about the SCAN council and how you can take a part in preventing child abuse and neglect in our community, please contact Arbor Circle at (616) 396-2301 or by email: prevention@arborcircle.org
