Pinwheels placed to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention month

DANVILLE, Pa. - In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, which raises awareness of child abuse and neglect, staff members from the Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in Sunbury planted blue mylar pinwheels at the entrance of Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

The pinwheels represent playfulness, joy and a carefree childhood and serve as a reminder to protect and nurture our children. Pinwheels for Prevention is a national campaign for child abuse prevention.

This year the CAC team wore special T-shirts to commemorate the awareness month. The shirts were created by Chelsea Whispell, the daughter of Trisha Whispell, social work educator at the CAC. Chelsea had the idea of creating and selling T-shirts to raise funds for the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance (PFSA). The fundraiser will help Chelsea earn her Silver Torch in working toward her Girl Scout Cadettes Award.

"Chelsea set a goal of raising $1,000 for PFSA, which is equal to selling 200 shirts," Trisha Whispell said.

PFSA works with local community organizations around child abuse prevention efforts and has partnered with local schools and organizations on a statewide art project called Painting for Prevention. Artwork created for the project is displayed in many community organizations all month long, including Geisinger pediatric and family practice clinics.

Many members of the CAC staff took part in the pinwheel planting on Monday, including (from left) Paul Bellino, M.D., clinical director of the Geisinger Division of Child Protection and Advocacy; Cameran Gardner, victim advocate; Alaina Johnson, licensed clinical social worker; Hailey Welker, forensic interviewer; Alexis Smith, CAC program manager with Ollie, CAC's certified therapy dog; Chelsea Whispell, Girl Scout; Melissa Wagner, director of the Geisinger Division of Child Protection and Advocacy; Cheryl Moroz, forensic interviewer and Trisha Whispell, social worker educator.