April is National Child Abuse Prevention month and the Month of the Young Child. This week, area leaders and community members took part in an event to raise awareness and support our children in the city of Dunkirk.

The Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign is a national awareness campaign formed by Prevent Child Abuse America to urge people to take action against child abuse. Shining in the sun, the pinwheels represent a bright future for our children and our community. All children deserve to live in stable, loving, and stimulating environments – at home, in school, and in the community.

Beth Starks, professor and Early Childhood Education Coordinator at Jamestown Community College and founder and executive director of Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center, welcomed the crowd gathered at Dunkirk City Hall. “I hope that everyone who sees a pinwheel in our community this month will take a minute to reflect on its significance as a happy, uplifting symbol of childhood, something all children deserve,” she said.

“The way that our community comes together to support this event and learn of ways and resources to keep our children safe leaves me profoundly hopeful for our children’s future.”

Beth Starks, founder and executive director of Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center, speaks at Dunkirk City Hall with Mayor Wilfred Rosas in the background.

Numerous community agencies collaborate to lower the incidence of child abuse in Chautauqua County. These include: the Anew Center, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Child Advocacy Program, Safe Harbour, Jamestown YWCA/CAPP, Prevention Works, the county Department of Health and Human Services, CCMH/Tapestry, Chautauqua Lake Child Care Center, COI Child Care Council and GA Family Services

Since 1983, April has been known as National Child Abuse Prevention month and city Mayor Wilfred Rosas has been joining in Child Abuse Prevention month activities, as well providing his support to protect children and prevent abuse since he began his tenure. “Child abuse is happening in all communities and the city of Dunkirk is not exempt from this,” he said. “The city has been involved in supporting the Pinwheels for Prevention initiative to bring awareness to child abuse and child neglect. Our children are our future and we must do everything we can to protect them.”

Unfortunately, in Chautauqua County, they have received 2,606 reports of child abuse or neglect made to the state central registry in 2019 and 2,274 in 2020. Although the number is lower in 2020, it is important to note that there was a significant decrease in reporting as children were not in schools and other settings where abuse would be identified and reported. There have been 649 reports of abuse or neglect in 2021 since January. This represents an increase since schools have been moving to face-to-face. In addition, reports with parental drug use are up by 3% in 2020-21. Child abuse awareness and prevention is needed more than ever.

In addition to April being Child Abuse awareness month, in April we also celebrate the Month of the Young Child.

The Month of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the world’s largest early childhood education association The purpose is to focus public attention to the needs of young children and their families, and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

First established as the “Week of the Young Child” in 1971, the association sought to recognize that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. We, in Chautauqua County, choose to take the whole month of April to celebrate. Today we know more than ever before about the importance of children’s earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing.

Why does investing in Early Childhood matter to communities? Because the economic return on investment is $1.86 for every $1 spent. And that’s money that stays–and is spent — in communities. Investing early in a child’s development increases the chances that they will be successful in school, graduate from high school, go to college or participate in career training, and, ultimately, become part of your workforce as productive members of our society. If we reach children at a young age and support their development, it will reduce taxpayer spending on remedial services in schools, juvenile justice expenditures, incarceration, and drug rehabilitation.

“It’s easy to look away. It’s easy to say not my child, not my concern. It’s even easy to sit here at a rally one day of the year standing for prevention,” Starks said. “The children of our county need more from you. Don’t look away, learn about what is going on right in front of you in our county. Don’t say, not my child, not my problem. Instead, say our child, all of our children, all of our problems. Don’t sit here at a rally one day of the year standing for prevention. Stand up for children every day. Be their voice. Everyone has a role to play in preventing child abuse and supporting children and families.”

In addition to the focus on preventing child abuse, Pinwheels for Prevention are the centerpiece of a growing movement of people and organizations committed to stopping child abuse before it starts. The pinwheel is a happy and uplifting token of childhood. It stands as a symbol of hope and the bright futures we want for New York’s children. A great childhood requires a loving and supportive family and community.

The Month of the Young Child is a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment–at home, at child care, at school, and in the community–that will promote their early learning. Each of us has the responsibility to make the world a better place for our children. Please take a minute today to think about what you can do for the children of our community and also please take time to recognize and appreciate the professionals who work with our youngest citizens. Let’s celebrate our children and end abuse in Chautauqua County!