Have you noticed the blue pinwheels “planted” around the shore? The Salisbury City Park has a mass planting of 676 pinwheels at the corner of Snow Hill Road and Main Street, and each pinwheel represents one child abuse case in Wicomico County in 2022.

But the number of children in those cases is actually closer to 700, because a single case can involve multiple children, explained Cheryll Bissell, coordinator of the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center. So far this year, there have been 215 child abuses cases in the county to which CAC has responded. 

Earlier this month, the Wicomico County Council and the City of Salisbury recognized April as Child Abuse Awareness Month and presented proclamations to representatives of the CAC and the Life Crisis Center, who works with the CAC. All over the shore, pinwheels have been planted during the month as part of the national Pinwheels for Prevention program begun in 2008 by Prevent Child Abuse America. The pinwheel is the symbol for the national campaign to prevent child abuse because it’s a classic childhood toy that evokes feelings of whimsy and lightheartedness, just what childhood should be.

Mass plantings are in all three counties – Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset, and more pinwheels are planted at various locations, sometimes even in neighborhoods. They are anywhere people are showing support. 

Child abuse is “a taboo topic that no one likes to talk about,” said Jamie Manning, executive director of the Life Crisis Center in Salisbury, which provides free services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. The various agencies work hard to raise awareness and to let people know how to be involved.

One startling statistic is that nationally 90% of children know their abusers, and in Wicomico, it’s even higher, Manning said. The abuser could be anyone in a caregiver role, whether it’s a boyfriend of a child’s mom, a coach, a doctor, anyone who knows the child. Also consider abuse facilitated by the internet.

 All ages of children are in the CAC court, from birth up to 18. “We have cases of newborns with shaken baby syndrome, which causes brain injury and can cause death, all the way to teenagers who have been sexually abused,” she said.

“Know who you are bringing around your children,” she emphasized. People think they are being nice, they don’t want to question others, she said, but those questions are essential in order to protect children. She stressed how crucial it is for parents to talk to their kids about these tough topics. “When they are in the teenage years, they don’t want us all up in their business, but we need to be,” she said. 

In Maryland, there are Child Advocacy Centers in every county and Baltimore City. The 24 CACs partner with a multi-disciplinary team to provide investigation and intervention services; on the shore, they refer to it as “Tri-County Goes Blue.” That team covers every aspect of a child abuse case, from counseling for a victim to prosecuting the abuser. All counties have these teams, but in Wicomico County, the partnership includes

*Department of Social Services

*Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and Salisbury City Police Department

*mental health care by Life Crisis Center (they support all 3 lower shore counties)

*prosecution by the state attorney’s office, and

*medical care by a private practice pediatrician and support from TidalHealth

Bissell said there are a few main ways the community can help fight child abuse.

1.    Most importantly, report suspected or known abuse by calling 1-800-917-7383. You will hear a prompt to select your county. If  an emergency, dial 9-1-1.

2.    Have the difficult but critical conversations with the children in our lives. People tend to focus on “stranger-danger” but remember, 90% of child sexual abuse involves a trusted person in that child’s life.

3.    Host training and share information with colleagues, congregations, and civic and community groups. Bissell said representatives from the child advocacy center can give presentations and hand out materials on prevention.

4.    Sponsor or support fundraisers. Sobo’s sponsored a fundraiser just last week, and this Friday, April 28, the Deli at Pecan Square is donating to the CAC a portion of the revenue for each sub sold.

5.    Donate snacks. The CAC likes to have snacks for kids when they attend therapy or court. They also use donations to purchase snacks, and often clothing for a child. Sometimes kids need clothing that they feel more comfortable in, she said. 

The most important reminder from every agency: Child sexual abuse prevention is the responsibility of adults. Keep children safe! Hold abusers responsible.

The CAC is very involved in the community spreading that message. At the annual Junior Achievement event for local school kids, CAC was there to talk about careers. Anytime they are talking about this topic, Bissell said they have to be prepared for the outcome; sometimes a student will disclose abuse while he or she is talking.

Be on the lookout for the carefree blue pinwheels scattered around the shore, and do your part to bring awareness to a tough subject. Support local businesses who have joined the effort. Hopefully next year, there will be a lot fewer pinwheels that have to be planted.