Guilford County Health Event Promotes Child Abuse Prevention April 1

Nine organizations spanning county government, law enforcement, and nonprofit services will gather Wednesday at the Warnersville Community Recreation Center in Greensboro as Guilford County Division of Public Health marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month with a free three-hour event built around the theme "Positive Childhoods Start With Us."

The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at 601 Doak Street and is organized by the division's Child Fatality Prevention Team. Partners include the City of Greensboro Parks & Recreation, Guilford County Schools, Greensboro Police Department, Positive Childhood Alliance NC, Family Service of the Piedmont, Trillium Health Resources, Guilford County Partnership for Children, the North Carolina Judicial Branch's Family and Children division, and Safe Kids North Carolina. Attendees can expect music, games, no-cost safety items, and connections to community resources, with an onsite MMR vaccine clinic also available during the event window.

"Creating positive childhoods starts with community effort," said Courtney McFadden, Guilford County Public Health Director. "We hope this celebration inspires families and neighbors to work together to keep every child in Guilford County safe and cared for."

The April 1 gathering is the first in a series of county-wide observances running through the month. On April 4, the Guilford County Division of Public Health and the Kellin Foundation are organizing Community Pinwheel Planting Day, inviting residents, schools, nonprofits, agencies, and businesses to plant pinwheels, the nationally recognized symbol for child abuse prevention. Individuals who want a pinwheel and yard sign can sponsor Kellin Foundation's work at kellinfoundation.org. Nonprofit organizations and schools can obtain pinwheels without a sponsorship by contacting Melissa Burkes at (336) 641-6253 or mburkes@guilfordcountync.gov.

Kellin Foundation Executive Director Dr. Kelly Graves has put a sharp number to why the effort matters: "In 2020, there were 22,400 child abuse victims in North Carolina. By our count, that's 22,400 too many."

The month's programming continues on Saturday, April 11, when the Guilford County Division of Social Services Thriving Families Support Services and Guilford County Schools Family Academy will co-host a Prevent Child Abuse Wellness Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Guilford County Health and Human Services building at 1203 Maple Street, Greensboro. That event will connect families to resources covering food, housing, clothing, medical care, and mental health services, with giveaways available while supplies last. Families who visit vendor tables and complete a resource card will receive a free lunch. Registration for the April 11 fair is required online by Monday, April 6.

A separate open house with free screenings will be held April 2 through Guilford County Division of Public Health Primary Care in High Point, offering confidential testing and basic health checks.

Wednesday's event at Warnersville requires no registration and no payment.