Signs, pinwheels aim to raise child abuse awareness
By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
The Tree House Child and Family Center and Walworth County Health and Human Services are working together to help bring awareness to child abuse prevention during the month of April.
It’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month, therefore, the organizations will be distributing and displaying yard signs throughout the county that read, “NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE.”
The organization will also be placing blue pinwheels in front of their respective locations, with each pinwheel representing one case of child abuse that has happened in Walworth County.
“When you see these signs and pinwheels, we ask that you not only remember those who have been broken by the cycle of abuse, but to also take action,” Tree House Executive Director Ismael Chartier said.
Chartier said taking action could include a variety of different methods, with things as simple as starting conversations with others in the community, becoming more informed about child abuse and neglect, and for those with children of their own, even using it as a teaching opportunity.
According to the 2019 Wisconsin Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect report, Walworth County saw a total of 70 child abuse victims that year, a rate of 3.3 children per 1,000 people of population.
The report shows that in Walworth County there were a total of 342 Child Protective Services reports in 2019, with reports of physical and sexual abuse accounting for nearly half of them.
According to the DCF report, Walworth County saw a total of 204 cases of neglect, 116 cases of physical abuse, 58 cases of sexual abuse and 9 cases of emotional abuse reported to CPS in 2019.
Of those reported to Child Protective Services, 48 cases of neglect, 20 cases of physical abuse and 10 case of sexual abuse in 2019 were found to be substantiated claims, accounting for a roughly 20.2% total county substantiation percentage rate.
“We hope this awareness will not only open our eyes but also encourage each of us to do our part to end child abuse and neglect. After all, our goal as a community and as an organization is to make Walworth County a safe place for children to grow and thrive,” Chartier said.
“Let’s each do our part in becoming the heroes for those children needing rescued,” Chariter added.
A non-profit entity funded by donations, grants and special events, the Walworth County Alliance for Children was officially established as a non-profit organization in 2009 from the Children’s Court Advisory Board that had been actively meeting monthly since 1989.
The Tree House Child and Family Center first began offering services in April 2013, providing child victims of abuse and traumatic events a safe and welcoming place to discuss those events with law enforcement and therapists.
Today, the Tree House continues to provide child abuse awareness, prevention and education and training programs to Walworth County.
For more information or to donate, visit treehouseforkids.net.
