Every year, the month of April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Local agencies dedicated to children’s safety join together each year as the Child Abuse Prevention Coalition of Greater Williamsburg to help raise awareness of child abuse while providing the community with easy tips for prevention.
As part of the Coalition’s effort to spread awareness about Child Abuse Prevention Month, pinwheel gardens were planted all over James City County and the City of Williamsburg. The pinwheel gardens serve as a visual reminder that all children deserve a healthy, happy and carefree childhood free from abuse and neglect. Most of the pinwheel gardens are made of 38 pinwheels to represent the 38 children who died in Virginia as a result of abuse or neglect in the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
You can find pinwheel gardens in the following locations:
- James City County Human Services Building
- James City County Law Enforcement Center
- Community Action Agency Historic Triangle Building
- James City County Recreation Center
- James City County Housing/Parks and Rec office on Palmer Lane
- James City County Emergency Communications Building
- James City County Library
- James City County Government Center on Mounts Bay Road
- James City County Fire Station 2
- City of Williamsburg Police Station
- Williamsburg/James City County Courthouse
Members of the 2018 Child Abuse Prevention Coalition of Greater Williamsburg include:
- James City County Social Services
- James City County Police
- James City County Parks and Recreation
- Child Development Resources
- City of Williamsburg Police
- City of Williamsburg Human Services
- Williamsburg/James City County Sherriff’s Office
- Williamsburg/James City County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office
- Community Action Agency
- Virginia Cooperative Extension
For more information about child abuse or neglect, visit the Prevent Child Abuse Virginia website.
To report suspected child abuse or neglect please call:
- City of Williamsburg 757-220-6161
- James City County 757-259-3201
- VA Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline (after hours) 800-552-7096
Media Contact:
Rebecca Vinroot, Social Services Director
757-259-3104; rebecca.vinroot@jamescitycountyva.gov