Several awareness initiatives planned in coming weeks
Special to IFN
During National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, five child-centered agencies in Iredell and Alexander counties are working together to bring awareness to a cause at the heart of their agencies.
During fiscal year 2023, more than 3 million children in the U.S. received an investigation for maltreatment.
As a show of solidarity in the fight against child abuse, the Department of Social Services, Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center, Guardian Ad Litem of NC, Iredell County Partnership for Young Children, and Pharos Parenting are collaborating to bring awareness to the issue through a series of initiatives.
On Wednesday, March 26, “Tie-A-Tree Blue” events will be held in Statesville, Troutman, and Mooresville, followed by events in Taylorsville and Harmony on Thursday, March 27. Representatives from each agency, along with civic clubs, media, and the public, will tie blue ribbons to the branches of selected trees. Signs will be placed at each tree with a message of awareness and phone numbers for reporting abuse and neglect. A town representative will speak briefly about the importance of prevention in our community.
The community is encouraged to come and tie ribbons on the trees with the agencies. Times and locations:
♦ Wednesday, 9 a.m. — Statesville (Corner of Tradd & Water streets)
♦ Wednesday, 11 a.m. —Troutman (125 Main Street, near fire station)
♦ Wednesday, 1 p.m. — Mooresville (148 N. Main Street)
♦ Thursday, 9 a.m. — Taylorsville (Courthouse Steps, 29 W. Main Avenue)
♦ Thursday, 11 a.m. — Harmony (Tomlinson-Moore Family Park, 187 High Point Avenue)
In addition, the collaboration provided kits to local schools to create pinwheel gardens. They also provided coloring sheets with a prevention message for pediatricians’ offices and libraries to hand out.
The national symbol for child abuse prevention is the pinwheel, as it represents the happy, carefree childhood we want for all children. Pinwheel gardens will be displayed throughout the community in April. The number of pinwheels in each garden represents the number of children that were killed at the hands of their parent or caregiver in North Carolina in 2024. Sadly, the gardens will be displaying 32 pinwheels this April.
Blue represents child abuse prevention so the public is encouraged to participate in “Wear Blue Day” on Friday, April 4. Be sure to post pictures to social media using #WearBlueDay2025. Churches in the area are encouraged to participate in “Wear Blue Sunday” on Sunday, April 27, and use #WearBlueSunday to post to social media.
Iredell County government buildings will change their outdoor lights to blue for the month of April.
The agencies involved have been working on the Child Abuse Prevention Campaign since January and hope that their efforts will bring to light the importance of prevention through education, awareness, and advocacy. Iredell County and Alexander County are fortunate to have so many agencies committed to children in our community. There is a continuum of care for families, which helps to keep all children safe, healthy, and happy.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about these agencies, visit their websites:
♦ Department of Social Services — www.iredellcountync.gov/299/Social-Services
♦ Dove House — www.dovehousecac.org
♦ Guardian Ad Litem of NC — www.volunteerforgal.org
♦ Iredell County Partnership for Young Children — www.iredellsmartstart.org
♦ Pharos Parenting — www.pharosparenting.org