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Planting pinwheels for child abuse awareness

T-G STAFF REPORT
Posted 4/4/23

Driving down North Cannon Boulevard you may notice a blue and silver pinwheel garden in front of the old Chamber of Commerce building.

Every year, Junior’s House Child Advocacy Center …

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Planting pinwheels for child abuse awareness

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Driving down North Cannon Boulevard you may notice a blue and silver pinwheel garden in front of the old Chamber of Commerce building.

Every year, Junior’s House Child Advocacy Center plants a pinwheel garden in each of the counties they serve. The location was chosen to help bring traction to commemorate April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.

During the pinwheel event, Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham signed a proclamation for this commemoration.

Each Garden represents the over 500 children Junior’s House serves annually, due to allegations of abuse and neglect. Each Pinwheel seen planted in Shelbyville this April will represents 10 abused and neglected children they served during the past year.

According to Heather Warden, Forensic Interview Specialist at Junior’s House, the blue represents the bruises abused children experience.

Every day, across the country, some 1,900 children are abused, according to a recent Junior’s House press release. Child abuse continues to be prevalent with one in ten children being sexually abused before they turn 18 years old. Child abuse is even linked to higher rates of drug use, teen pregnancy, mental illness, and shorter life spans.

Junior’s House Inc. was established in 2003 in honor of a boy named Junior, a six-year-old who tragically died as the result of child abuse. Capt. Joyce McConnell, from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, engaged the Lincoln County Community and opened a child advocacy center to help ensure that child abuse victims receive the services and support they need and to honor the brief life of Junior. Junior’s House offers services in Bedford, Lincoln, Moore, and Marshall Counties. They are located at 200 Dover St. Suite 121 in Shelbyville.

Junior’s House representatives also go to schools to teach kids about “body safety,” such as good versus bad touch—which should make you feel “icky” on the inside, explained Makinley Holland.

Holland said she has many children come up to her after her presentation and say they have been abused before. She said some 90% of children are abused by people they know.

They also teach five rules: know what’s up; spot red flags; make a move; talk it up; and no blame, no shame.

Junior’s House will also be hosting an event on May 11 at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds for their annual Blue Ribbon Walk. Kick off time is at 9:30 a.m. with State Rep. Pat Marsh officiating. Walker forms can be picked up at Junior’s House or found on-line at juniorshousecac.org. Please register by April 18 to ensure you receive a free t-shirt.