Hope, Health and Happiness ...

By George Nianiatus, senior writer
Communications Department

No matter what the age of children, they deserve and need to be healthy, safe and nurtured.

This is why Bradford Regional Medical Services and Pediatric Associates of Bradford, both part of Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), are holding a two-week awareness campaign starting Monday at the hospital which celebrates childhood and what steps can be done to ensure their safety. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“Children are our future and we need to ensure their protection. Healthy, safe and nurturing environments are essential to the well-being of all children,” says Vicki Etter, a Pediatric Associates receptionist who helped spearhead this awareness campaign at BRMC.

During the awareness event’s first week in BRMC’s Outpatient Services Center lobby, there will be a display with nearly 200 blue pinwheels resembling a flower garden which represents births at BRMC. A banner above the display will say, “Hope, Health And Happiness For All Children Everywhere.” There will also be pinwheels displayed outside at the Memorial Garden that’s adjacent to BRMC’s main entrance.

Additionally, blue ribbons will be given to BRMC employees and other hospital visitors who want to wear a visual reminder to raise awareness about child abuse prevention.

Meanwhile, another 200 pinwheels colored by George G. Blaisdell Elementary School students will adorn the hospital’s main lobby walls and other rooms and hallways throughout BRMC, including Pediatric Associates, as a vivid reminder to celebrate childhood.

“This is a way to recognize our commitment to encourage caring and positive behavior,” says Mrs. Etter. “The blue ribbons symbolize positive steps that everyone can take to keep children safe from abuse and neglect as we work toward becoming a blue-ribbon winner in our campaign fighting child abuse and neglect.”

According to U.S. statistics, an estimated 905,000 children were found to be victims of child abuse and neglect in 2006. During the event’s second week, the pinwheel garden display will grow with the addition of useful literature available to parents and others in the community on such topics as “Nurturing and Attachment,” “Knowledge of Parenting and of Child and Youth Development,” “Parental Resilience - Courage During Stressful Times,” “Social Connections” and “Concrete Support.”

Bonnie Lama, office manager of BRMC’s Pediatric Associates, says, “We wanted to start this awareness campaign to celebrate our community’s children. It’s also designed to remind adults and others that nurturing environments are characterized by loving actions and loving words. We believe that the responsibility of putting these goals into practice starts with each one of us.”

The first National Child Abuse Prevention Week began in 1982 and later evolved into a month-long awareness effort. In 1989, the blue-ribbon campaign had its early beginnings as a Virginia grandmother’s tribute to her grandson who died as a result of abuse. Bonnie Finney tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her car as a way to remember him and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse.

Those blue pinwheels are popping up in front yards and community events throughout the country as it takes time in April to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month. Nearly 500,000 pinwheels have been distributed nationwide by Prevent Child Abuse America. The organization is using these as the centerpiece of its new campaign called “Pinwheels for Prevention.” The pinwheel represents Prevent Child Abuse America’s efforts to change the way the nation thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur.

The solution is simple, officials say. The actions that individuals take to promote healthy child development are the actions that help to prevent child abuse and neglect, like parent-child interaction, reading and constructive play, according to officials from Prevend Child Abuse America. Pinwheels for Prevention also represents the national campaign’s efforts to highlight the fact that everyone plays a role in raising children whether they are neighbors, teachers, police officers, librarians, mentors, coaches or family members.

"We all play a role in raising children," says Prevent Child Abuse America President and CEO Jim Hmurovich. “Everyone plays a role in not just healthy child development, but the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Please learn more about what we are doing in communities like yours. Please support this campaign, and please do whatever you can to ensure that prevention is a priority in your community, state and the nation.”

To make prevention a priority, the public needs to ask themselves the
following questions:
● What are the things I can do to foster good, healthy child
development in my community?
● Am I knowledgeable about the legislation that supports prevention
on the local and federal levels? and
● How can I support prevention at the local and federal levels?

Experts say abuse and neglect often have lifelong consequences for a child, including a greater chance of delinquency, criminal involvement, drug addiction, chronic health problems, mental health issues and an overall drop-off in productivity of the individual as a functioning member of communities.

Programs and strategies like home visiting, parent education, mutual self-help support, mental health services for new mothers, and expanding the availability of affordable daycare programming and substance abuse treatment all play a role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

For more information, log onto www.pinwheelsforprevention.org,
www.brmc.com or www.mckeanfamilyresources.net.

Pictured, Colby Uhl (left), a George G. Blaisdell Elementary School first grader, and Nicole Sayers (right), a second grader at the school, display their pinwheels that will be used during a two-week campaign at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) to publicize April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Colby is the son of William and Amanda Uhl of Bradford. Nicole is the daughter of William and Sue Sayers of Bradford. Shown with the students in the photo is Bonnie Lama, office manager of BRMC’s Pediatric Associates of Bradford, who helped organize the awareness campaign at the hospital.
(Photo courtesy of BRMC)