The Bridge plants 1,335 Pinwheels of Prevention in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·4 min read

In honor of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month and in partnership with local organizations, The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center planted more than 1,300 pinwheels representing the children they served last year during Pinwheels of Prevention.

Friday morning, local organizations including the Amarillo Police Department, Amarillo Fire Department, Child Protective Services, Panhandle Area Sherriff's, mental health associates, and more climbed the lawn in front of the Bridge Advocacy Center to plant 1,335 brightly colored pinwheels, which will be spinning throughout the month of April in honor of every child who was interviewed by The Bridge staff in 2022.

"It's a visual representation for the community to see what our work is doing, while still being able to protect the confidentiality of our children but allowing the community to know we have seen 1,335 children. That is important, and our community needs to realize that this is happening right here in the community. People might not want to see that, but it is critical that they do see it," said The Bridge Executive Director Shelly Bohannon.

Community members plant 1,335 pinwheels on The Bridge lawn Friday afternoon in honor of every child served in 2022 and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Community members plant 1,335 pinwheels on The Bridge lawn Friday afternoon in honor of every child served in 2022 and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Each of the pinwheels planted on The Bridge lawn Friday represents a child the organization served last year, which was an increase from the previous year. The Pinwheels of Prevention is among several events throughout April to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Each of the pinwheels planted on The Bridge lawn Friday represents a child the organization served last year, which was an increase from the previous year. The Pinwheels of Prevention is among several events throughout April to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Capt. Tyler Smith of the Amarillo Independent School District's Police Department attended the event in honor of the children he serves, and he spoke about the importance of law officials' representation as a part of the pinwheel planting and roles in the cases themselves.

"Especially for me at AISD, our kids are everything, and this is a wonderful service that doesn't revictimize our victims," Smith said. "So, when we have sexual assault abuse in the home or even abuse at school, we can bring these kids here, and they feel safe here. The Bridge allows them to tell their story once and not have to continue to replay a horrible instance that happened in their life over and over again. They have one voice here at The Bridge that carries through the prosecution."

The Bridge serves children from the ages of birth through 17 years who are involved in a crime requiring their statements. Bohannon stated that primarily, they serve children involved in sexual abuse cases, whether a victim or witness. Other cases include physical abuse, or witnessing a felony crime of domestic violence or even homicide.

During last year's pinwheel ceremony, The Bridge planted an approximate total of 1,107 pinwheels, which was 200 less than this year's planting. Bohannon said there is annual fluctuation, but overall the organization has seen a rise in cases over the past five years.

"Our five-year span, we are trending up. That does take into account the pandemic time-frame, as well as before that, so even prior to the pandemic, we were on a trend upwards. While there are year-to-year ups and downs, there is a trending upward that could be seen for probably the past five to 10 years," Bohannon said.

Bohannon stated that that trend does not necessarily indicate more child abuse occurring in the area, but it could indicate the effectiveness of the ogranization's community awareness programs, giving the community the knowledge of how to recognize, respond and report child abuse.

"It is critically important that we are all involved as a team, as a multidisciplinary team. We are all involved from the very beginning from the minute that report is made, and even before, including our educators, daycare providers, those making the initial report. ... It's very powerful for those children to know and see all who are here to honor them and protect them," Bohannon added.

Friday morning, local organizations climbed the lawn in front of the Bridge Advocacy Center to plant brightly colored pinwheels, which will be spinning throughout the month of April in honor of every child who was interviewed by The Bridge staff in 2022.
Friday morning, local organizations climbed the lawn in front of the Bridge Advocacy Center to plant brightly colored pinwheels, which will be spinning throughout the month of April in honor of every child who was interviewed by The Bridge staff in 2022.
Friday morning, local organizations climbed the lawn in front of the Bridge Advocacy Center to plant brightly colored pinwheels, which will be spinning throughout the month of April in honor of every child who was interviewed by The Bridge staff in 2022.
Friday morning, local organizations climbed the lawn in front of the Bridge Advocacy Center to plant brightly colored pinwheels, which will be spinning throughout the month of April in honor of every child who was interviewed by The Bridge staff in 2022.

Previous to the planting of pinwheels, The Bridge held a Re-Execution & Signing of Memorandums of Understanding Ceremony (MOU), where more than 80 agencies across the Texas Panhandle signed the ceremonial MOU, reiterating their promise to serve and protect.

Prior to the Amarillo location pinwheel plantings, ceremonies were also held at all of their satellite Panhandle area locations, including 85 pinwheels in Pampa last Tuesday; 51 in Dumas this past Wednesday; and the upcoming planting of 34 pinwheels to be held Monday, April 3 at 10 a.m. at Mothers Park, 807 Main St., in Hereford.

Following the Pinwheels of Prevention ceremony in Amarillo, The Bridge will host a Go Blue Day on Friday, April 14. Participants are asked to wear blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month and take photos with coworkers, friends, and family, then flood social media feeds with the Blue Day photos, spreading awareness. The Bridge asks participants to be sure the tag them using #goblueday and #thebridgecac.

On April 29 at 9 a.m., The Bridge will host "A Mile in Their Shoes," where community members are invited to walk or run this one-mile course in the neighborhood of The Bridge Amarillo to commemorate Child Abuse Awareness Month.

To sign up for "A Mile in Their Shoes," visit The Bridge's event website online at www.bit.ly/WalkForThem ; complementary t-shirts will be limited for this event.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: The Bridge plants over 1,300 pinwheels representing those they serve