By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The spinning pinwheels planted along East Wooster Street are deceptively cheery every spring. Each of the 889 pinwheels tells the story of a child abuse or neglect case investigated in Wood County during 2025.
While the number of cases grew last year, the staff handling those cases decreased due to funding cuts from the federal government.
This is the 21st year that pinwheels have been displayed for each child abuse and neglect case in the county.
“We want to call attention to the public of the continuing child abuse and neglect,” said Dave Wigent, director of Wood County Job and Family Services.
“We plant a pinwheel for every one of them, so folks can drive by and see how serious this is,” Wigent said.
In addition to more cases, the county is also seeing more difficult cases.
“We seem to get more severe cases per year,” Wigent said. “It’s hard to get to the bottom of those and know why it’s occurring.”
Many of the cases involve substance abuse or mental health issues, said Sandi Carsey, protective services administrator at Wood County Job and Family Services.
“It seems like the cases are getting more involved,” she said. “There’s a lot more to them.”
Making matters more difficult is the hiring freeze that was implemented at Wood County Job and Family Services due to the federal funding cuts last year. That has the Children’s Services department down by two staff members right now, Carsey said.
Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson praised the work of Children’s Services staff.
“They do yeoman’s work, protecting children,” Dobson said as he stood with a handful of the pinwheels to be placed in the ground Wednesday morning in front of First United Methodist Church, 1528 E. Wooster St., Bowling Green. The pinwheels will remain there for the rest of April, Child Abuse Awareness Month.
“This is one of my favorite, and least favorite times of the year,” Dobson said, of the joyful event with children from the church learning center planting the pinwheels in the ground – and the troubling statistic that it represents.
“We want to bring attention to child abuse,” that increased by 22 cases from the 867 cases the year before, Dobson said.
The pinwheels are an annual reminder that everyone needs to be aware of child abuse and neglect, he added.
“All the public is responsible to maintain that vigilance” for those most vulnerable, Dobson said.
This is the second year that the banner behind the field of pinwheels cites another statistic of 91% of children, who were the focus of investigations, remaining with their families in 2025.
“I think it’s important that people understand we’re not out to take the kids out of their homes,” Carsey said last year when the stat was 86%. “We want the kids to be home and safe with their families.”
Occasionally, children have to be moved to residential care that takes them elsewhere in Ohio or even out of state.
“But we really don’t like to do that if we can help it,” she said.
Carsey urged people to report suspected child abuse or neglect to Wood County Children’s Services.
“It’s important to take that first step. I know it’s hard sometimes,” she said.
Concerns can be reported to a hotline at 419-354-9669.
“It’s important to call so we can assist the family. We need people to call in when they have a concern about a family – so we can get involved,” Carsey said.
