Blue pinwheels are spinning across the field in front of HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital in Springfield, Ill. Adults and children recently gathered and pinned one blue pinwheel at a time on the grassy field in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Blue ribbons are also festooned around the campus of the Hospital Sisters Health System hospital for the monthlong observation, and the facility is lighting the south face of its patient tower blue.
"Working together we can prevent serious harm to the children and reduce trauma that will potentially affect them all of their lives. In particular, we should join together—at the community level—to reach out and touch families who are struggling and do all that we can to support them so they can support their children," B.J. Walker, acting director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, said in a news release.
Executives said the effort was a step to improve population health.
"By shining a light on awareness, early intervention and prevention, we are protecting a child's right to joy and innocence and improving long-term health outcomes in our community," Vernessa Glover, executive director of St. John's Children's Hospital, said in the release.
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