Pinwheels planted outside of the Hamilton Area YMCA help remind people about that many children are victims of abuse.
If you walk past the Hamilton Area YMCA on Whitehall-Mercerville Road in Hamilton any time this month, you'll see an amazing sight.
One hundred colorful pinwheels glinting in the April sun, their shiny faces there to remind us of an ugly reality: too many of our state's children become the victims of abuse every year.
Prevent Child Abuse America, a national organization devoted to raising awareness, chose the whimsical toy as the symbol of its ongoing campaign to stamp out an epidemic that attacks our littlest citizens.
Children at the local YMCA's Owls Preschool and early learning programs planted the pinwheels in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Never has the need been greater to open the public's eyes to what's going on around them.
Pinwheels stand against child abuse
Last year alone, almost a quarter of a million children in the United States reported being sexually abused, the nonprofit organization says. More than 55,000 reported being physically abused.
In many cases, the offenders were related to or known to the young victim; close to 90,000 of those offenders were the parent or step-parent.
Think it doesn't happen here? The state offshoot of the organization begs to differ.
Partnering with such corporate sponsors as Macy's, Verizon, Toys R Us and PSE&G, and operating out of headquarters in New Brunswick, the chapter develops prevention programs aimed at families, health-care providers, educators and other child advocates.
The hope is that by teaching parents about healthy child development and providing positive parenting skills, these efforts will build a strong foundation of healthy behaviors, ultimately creating an environment in which children can grow up safe from harm.
A research study led by the California health insurance company Kaiser concluded that up to 20 percent of all Americans have suffered an incident of child abuse before that age of 18.
Child abuse reporting, investigation needs to improve
This type of stress, the researchers found, can wreak havoc on the victim's overall life expectancy. Children who face serious stress such as abuse face markedly greater health challenges as they grow up, and are more likely to become involved with drugs and alcohol, the study concluded.
Expert also remind us that child abuse sets up a vicious cycle: Those who experience pain at the hands of others are more likely to have violent relationships with their own children in the future.
This is clearly a case where ignorance is not bliss.
Hamilton YMCA officials deserve praise for recognizing this, and for encouraging the adults in the community to know the signs of abuse and neglect - and to act on them.
For every pinwheel that stands guard on the lawn outside Hamilton's YMCA today, thousands of children could have more promising lives tomorrow.