Silver and blue pinwheels that will begin appearing soon around Pierce County are part of an effort to call attention to child abuse and a county program that supports victims. For the second year, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is planting pinwheels during April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheels are a symbol for the happy, healthy and carefree childhood every child deserves, CASA officials said. Pinwheels will be popping up in locations ranging from Frontier Park in Graham and Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway to multiple spots in Tacoma. The latter will include a "gardenGÇ¥ of 750 pinwheels in the lawn of Pierce County Juvenile Court - one for each child without a CASA. Officials said there are more than 1,500 abuse and neglected children in the foster care system in Pierce County. CASAs are volunteers who advocate for the children so that their needs are met in the system. CASAs remind all of the parties involved GÇô social workers, attorneys, parents, judges GÇô that the child is the focus of the case, and the child needs a permanent, safe, stable home. There are about 250 CASAs in Pierce County, and 750 children who don't have a CASA. Pinwheels for Prevention raises public awareness of child abuse and the need for CASAs who can help prevent abuse and neglect. More information about CASA is available from Carrie Appling at 253-798-3837 and http://piercecasa.org/. Pinwheels for Prevention is a national campaign that was started in 2008 by Prevent Child Abuse America and Healthy Families America.
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