By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A total of 857 cases of child abuse and neglect were investigated last year in Wood County. That is 62 more cases than in the prior year.
This morning, to raise awareness of the issue, 857 colorful pinwheels were planted in front of First United Methodist Church, at 1526 E. Wooster St., in Bowling Green.
“We plant one pinwheel for every child abuse case last year,” said David Wigent, director of Wood County Job and Family Services.
The spinning pinwheels will remain there for the rest of April, which is Child Abuse Awareness Month. The display is intended to remind local residents of the frequency of child abuse and neglect.
“I think sometimes people forget it occurs in every community, and we need to continue to try to prevent it,” Wigent said.
This year, children from First United Methodist Child Learning Center were enlisted to plant the pinwheels.
Sandi Carsey, protective services administrator at Wood County Job and Family Services, talked about the need for people in the community to report suspected child abuse.
“The 857 represents the number of people who made the phone call to us,” she said.
Carsey noted the increase in cases investigated last year, possibly due to children again being more visible in the community after isolating at home early on in the COVID pandemic.
“Kids are in school now, and people are out and about,” she said.
Children’s Services is seeing a large number of cases involving mental health issues and drugs, Carsey said.
In addition to the pinwheels in Bowling Green, local school districts are also participating in the third annual “Pinwheels on the Road” project. Area schools will have displays on their campuses indicating families in the district assisted by Wood County Children Services in the past year.
The breakdown per district is listed below:
- Northwood – 83
- Lake – 96
- Rossford – 83
- Perrysburg – 110
- Bowling Green – 186
- Otsego – 71
- Elmwood – 48
- Eastwood – 34
Anyone wanting to report concerns about child abuse or neglect may call Wood County Children’s Services at 419-354-9669.
