DCS, CASA use pinwheels to bring abuse awareness

Apr. 22—Members of the Department of Child Services (DCS) and Cass County Child Advocates (CASA) gathered at the Little Turtle Waterway Friday afternoon to place blue and silver pinwheels in the ground as a means to bring awareness to child abuse.

"Our goal was to spread awareness for child abuse prevention," said Jason Higgins, a family case manager at the Department of Child Services who also works in investigations and assessments. "We are trying to spread awareness in the community and get people involved to know that this is a significant issue that we deal with and we want to make sure kids and families are safe in their homes."

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The DCS hopes to establish better connections with the Logansport community by doing more events to help spread awareness, Higgins said.

A press release from Cass County Prosecutor Noah Schafer described child abuse as encompassing physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect and failure to provide necessary food or clothing to children.

After placing the pinwheels, which spun in the chilled breeze, Mystine Burgman, program director at Cass County Child Advocates, spoke about abuse in the area.

The pinwheels represented the safe and happy childhood every child deserves, Burgman said.

"Many of us will often say 'these are my kids' not because we birthed them but because we care for them and want the best for them just as if they were our own children," she said. "These are our kids and we need to start asking ourselves what can I do to make sure that at least one child in my community has a safe and happy childhood because of me."

Community members can report to the DCS hotline if they ever suspect child abuse, said Higgins.

The hotline's 24-hour number is 1-800-800-5556.

"We're here to make sure children are safe and families are safe and that we lessen the nature of abuse and neglect, especially here in Cass County," he said.