PRAIRIE GROVE -- Brightly colored, spinning pinwheels have been placed along the highway in Farmington, Prairie Grove and Lincoln to help bring attention to the seriousness of child abuse.
April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month and the Child Advocacy Center of Washington County has placed pinwheels in public view for the past six years to remind people that child abuse does occur.
"Pinwheels are a good representation of childhood, of being a child and playing outside," said Emily Rappé Fisher, the center's development director. "Pinwheels also are sparkly and bring attention to themselves."
The Child Advocacy Center in Springdale saw 612 children last year with alleged child abuse. To represent this number about 120 pinwheels were planted at five sites in Washington County. In western Washington County, pinwheels were stuck in the ground in front of Farmington City Hall and Prairie Grove City Hall and in front of Lincoln High School.
National statistics show that 90 percent of child abuse victims know their offenders and 93 percent of the victims suffered sexual abuse.
For 2017, child abuse cases are up, Fisher said.
In 2016, the center saw an average of 45 children per month. In January alone, the center saw 70 children.
Fisher said she is not sure why it appears the number of child abuse cases is on the rise but said one reason may be that more people are aware of the problem and children are more willing to tell others about it.
Detective William Redfern with Farmington Police Department said Farmington has more than its share of child abuse cases. He received two reports of child abuse in just the past two weeks.
"It's a hidden crime," Redfern said. "People don't realize it goes on as much as it does."
The Child Advocacy Center is an important service, Redfern said.
"It gives advocacy to parents and kids. We depend on it. If a case regards child abuse, especially sexual child abuse, you want to go to a kid-friendly place."
The center receives cases of child abuse through law enforcement agencies and through the Arkansas child abuse hot line, 1-800-482-5964.
The Child Advocacy Center celebrated its 20th anniversary in March and work by the center over the years is evident on the walls. Each child who comes through the center is asked to place their own handprint on the wall. Walls now are covered with 8,000 handprints.
The center was the first one in the state. Now, there are 15 centers in Arkansas.
The center has trained forensic interviewers to work with children. Other services at the center include medical exams and evaluations, crisis intervention, therapy, accompanying the child to court and connecting families to other services, such as housing, clothing and jobs.
Capt. Jeff O'Brien said Prairie Grove Police Department received about 12 calls last year of alleged child abuse that were sent to the Child Advocacy Center.
"For any child that is a victim of abuse, it's the preference to go there," said O'Brien. "They are trained forensics interviewers of children."
General News on 04/12/2017