The month of April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. To demonstrate their commitment to improving awareness of child abuse and neglect, the Newport News Healthy Families Community Advisory Board is sponsoring a variety of events. Coordinated by their Blue Ribbon Committee, the following events will serve to heighten awareness of child abuse and neglect.

• For the entire month of April, a Silent Children’s Garden of pinwheels, and children’s silhouettes will be on display next to Warwick Shopping Center on Warwick Boulevard in Newport News as a visual celebration of children of all cultures.
• April 1^st at 7:00PM - A cell phone vigil will be held at the Silent Children’s Garden. The vigil will be dedicated to children and families who have been affected by child abuse or neglect. As participants shine the light of their cell phone towards the sky. community members will share inspirational readings and facts about child abuse and neglect. Attendees of this event are being asked to bring used cell phones, working or not, with their chargers for donation to Transitions Family Violence Services.
• April 20th from 7PM to 8PM - Riverside Regional Medical Center will host a Positive Parenting Seminar by Valerie Price of The Get Up Project. This event is free to the public and will include information about ways to implement positive parenting strategies with your child. The seminar will be located on the first floor staff dining/conference room in the main building of the hospital at 500 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, VA.

The pinwheels in the Silent Children’s Garden were provided by the Healthy Families Blue Ribbon Committee to provide a visual symbol of Child Abuse and Prevention Month and to support Newport News Healthy Families’ Community Advisory Board in their efforts to serve children and families in need.  Materials and supplies for the silhouettes of children were donated by the Waterfront Lumber Company, Inc and The Sherwin-Williams Company. Through the generous donation of the National Counseling Group, Inc., the gracious permission of Mr. Raymond Suttle for the use of his property, and countless other contributions, the Silent Children’s Garden will serve as a reminder of the need to protect our children. To learn more about the pinwheel project and child abuse prevention in Virginia, please visit www.preventchildabuseva.org.