Several organizations came together yesterday to draw community attention to child abuse and neglect prevention. The entities did so through a pinwheel garden, a representation of silver pinwheels, twirling in the wind to remind the community of the initiative.

Representatives from the Beaufort-Hyde Partnership for Children, Department of Social Services, and Guardian Ad Litem, all of which partner to make the Beaufort County Community Child Protection Team, met at the corner of Main and Gladden streets to plant the garden and hear words about the need for the community to stay educated and vigilant on the issue, a major problem in the county, said Michele Benson, GAL program supervisor.

With April being National Child Abuse Prevention month, mandated by Ronald Reagan in 1983, pinwheel gardens can be found all throughout the nation, as part of the Prevent Child Abuse America’s Pinwheels for Prevention program. The pinwheels are said to represent “childlike notions and stands for the chance at the healthy, happy and full lives all children deserve,” according to the Pinwheels for Prevention website.

Benson said the Protection Team, made up of professionals that work with children in the community, including law enforcement, meets every other month to create partnerships and programs that reduce child abuse and provide healthier communities for children in the county. Benson’s organization also represents abused and neglected children in court and use volunteers to aid children, as well, she said.

District Court Judge Chris McLendon of the Second Judicial District spoke at the ceremony, giving statistics for reports of child abuse and neglect, as well as the fact that many people don’t realize the prevalence of child abuse and neglect. In 2014, Beaufort County accepted 424 reports of child abuse, neglect or dependency, which were all investigated. Also last year, Beaufort County had an average of 65 children in custody each month. Last month, there were 62 reports called in to DSS, and 55 of those reports were accepted as meeting the definition of abuse, neglect or dependency. Beaufort County currently has 71 children in foster care, McLendon said. McLendon also complimented the efforts of local agencies, professionals and volunteers, who aid in preventing the abuse and neglect of children.

“He did a good job and expressed appreciation for all the hard work that the community does around this issue,” said Laurel Miller, assistant director of Social Work Services at DSS. “He just really had some good comments, and a lot of folks here work with abused children and try to prevent abuse. He really did a good job of encouraging us to continue our work.”

DSS Director Sonya Toman said the event is important because it represents the prevention of the abuse.

“Oftentimes what gets focus is after children have been abused or neglected, and this is about prevention,” Toman said. “What we want to do is strengthen families and provide them with support.”

To volunteer for Guardian Ad Litem, call Michele Benson at 252-974-7864.