It takes a village: how you can help protect Virginia’s children this April Awareness, action, and the everyday ways each of us can make a difference for the children in our communities. 5,200+ children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect in Virginia in a recent year, a
reminder of why community awareness and action matter so much. Every April, communities across the country pause to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month is a time not just for reflection, but for action. In Virginia, this month is marked by pinwheel gardens, community events, and a growing movement of people who believe every child deserves to grow up safe, loved, and supported.
Child abuse and neglect don’t always look the way we imagine. It can happen quietly, in homes that appear perfectly normal from the outside. That’s why education and awareness are among the most powerful tools we have. When more people know what to look for. and what to do, more children get the help they need. “Prevention is possible. Abuse is not inevitable. Communities that are informed,
connected, and willing to act are communities where children thrive.”
Why You’ll See Pinwheels Everywhere This April
If you’ve noticed blue pinwheels popping up in front of schools, churches, government buildings, or neighbors’ yards this month, you’re seeing something meaningful. Those spinning blades aren’t just decoration, they carry a message about every child’s right to a safe, happy childhood. The pinwheel is the national symbol of child abuse prevention. Chosen because pinwheels represent the bright futures and playful spirits of children, the blue pinwheel has become the most recognized symbol of the child abuse prevention movement in the United States. Prevent Child Abuse America introduced it as the national symbol in 2008, and communities across the country have used pinwheel gardens to start conversations ever since. Blue: the color of calm, trust, and safety, was chosen to represent the kind of world every child deserves to grow up in.
When you see a pinwheel garden, it’s a community saying: we see children. We value them. And we’re committed to keeping them safe. Each pinwheel planted represents a child: their potential, their joy, and their right to grow up free from harm.
What Each Pinwheel Represents
• Childhood and play: Pinwheels are a universal symbol of childhood wonder, a reminder of what every child deserves to experience.
• Hope and possibility: The spinning motion represents the bright futures that become possible when children are safe and supported.
• Community commitment: A visible pledge, a neighborhood, school, or congregation saying “we stand for children.”
• A conversation starter: Pinwheels invite questions. When someone asks “what are those for?” awareness spreads naturally.
“Every pinwheel you see this April represents a child — their laughter, their potential, and the community’s promise to protect them.”
You can participate too. Organizations like Prevent Child Abuse Virginia often distribute pinwheels during April events. Plant one in your yard, place one on your desk, or share a photo on social media with #PinwheelsForPrevention to help carry the message further.
What Child Abuse can Look Like
Recognizing the signs of abuse or neglect is one of the first steps toward protecting a child. Signs may be physical, behavioral, or emotional and they often overlap. Physical signs include unexplained bruises, burns, or injuries; signs of frequent hunger or poor hygiene, and clothing inappropriate for the weather. Behavioral signs include sudden changes in mood or behavior, fear of specific adults, and withdrawal from friends and activities they once enjoyed. Emotional signs include low self-esteem, excessive anxiety or depression, age-inappropriate behavior, or self-destructive tendencies. Neglect signs are frequently absent from school, unmet medical or dental needs, and consistently tired or appearing to lack supervision.
You don’t need to be certain abuse has occurred to make a report. In Virginia, anyone can call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-552-7096. Reports can be made anonymously, and trained professionals will assess the situation.
Some of us have a legal responsibility to report. In Virginia, certain professionals are legally required to report reasonable suspicions of child abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services. These individuals, called mandated reporters, interact with children regularly as part of their work and are in a unique position to notice warning signs.
Mandated reporters in Virginia include:
• Teachers and school staff
• School counselors
• Physicians and nurses
• Mental health professionals
• Social workers
• Child care workers
• Law enforcement
• Coaches and clergy
• Emergency medical personnel
• Foster parents
• Court-appointed special advocates (CASAs)
If you are a mandated reporter and have reasonable cause to suspect a child is being abused or neglected. Virginia law requires you to report immediately. Failing to report is a Class 1 misdemeanor. If you’re unsure whether your role qualifies, Virginia’s Department of Social Services provides clear guidance and training resources.
You Don’t Have to Open Your Home to Make a Difference
There are many ways to support children and families in your community, this month and every month. Whether you have an afternoon or a lifetime to give, there’s a role for you.
• Volunteer with a local organization. Many nonprofits serving children and families need tutors, mentors, event helpers, and administrative support.
• Support a foster family. Offer to bring meals, provide childcare relief, donate supplies, or simply check in. Foster families carry a lot. Your support lightens the load.
• Become a CASA volunteer. Court Appointed Special Advocates speak up for children in the foster care system, ensuring their voices are heard in court.
• Donate to organizations on the front lines. Financial contributions help agencies provide training, resources, and services to families in need.
• Spread awareness. Share information about prevention resources, warning signs, and how to report concerns, on social media, in your workplace, or at your place of worship.
• Plant a pinwheel. Pick up pinwheels from a local prevention event and plant them in your yard, at your church, or at your workplace to spark conversations in your neighborhood.
• Consider becoming respite care foster parent. Providing short-term care for foster children gives foster families a much-needed break and keeps children in safe, familiar environments.
What it Means to Open Your Home
For those who feel called to do more, becoming a foster parent is one of the most profound ways to support a child during one of the hardest seasons of their life. Foster parents in Virginia provide safe, nurturing homes for children who have been removed from unsafe situations. Often on short notice, and often for children who carry a great deal of hurt. It doesn’t require perfection. It requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to show up, even on the hard days. The everyday moments matter enormously: a warm meal, a bedtime routine, someone who listens without judgment. These are the things that help a child begin to heal.
“Foster parents don’t have to fix everything. They just have to provide a safe place and a steady presence. That alone can change a child’s trajectory.”
Virginia needs foster families of all kinds: single adults, couples, people of different backgrounds and experiences. There is particular need for families who can welcome sibling groups, teens, and children with complex needs who often wait the longest for a placement.
Where to learn more and get connected
Virginia Child Abuse Neglect Hotline: 1-800-552-7096
Report suspected abuse or neglect 24/7. Available to anyone; you do not need to be certain to make a call.
Prevent Child Abuse Virginia: Statewide advocacy, prevention programs, pinwheel garden events, and community resources
for families and professionals.
CASA of Virginia: Find your local CASA program and learn how to become a volunteer advocate for children in
foster care.
Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
Crisis intervention, information, and referrals available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Could You Be a Foster Parent?
If you’ve ever wondered whether you could provide a safe, caring home for a child in need, we’d love to talk with you. No pressure—just an honest look at fostering and whether it fits your life.