Rockwall County Marks Child Abuse Prevention Month With Pinwheel Ceremony March 31
1,005 pinwheels covered the Historic Courthouse lawn March 31, each one a Rockwall County child served by abuse agencies last year. Here's how to report and help.
The 1,005 pinwheels planted on the lawn of the Historic Courthouse at 101 E. Rusk St. in downtown Rockwall were not decorations. Each one stood for a child in Rockwall County who needed intervention from a local abuse organization last year.
Rockwall County, Lone Star CASA, the Children's Advocacy Center for Rockwall County (CACRC), the Rainbow Room, Child Protective Services, and county elected officials gathered at 5:30 p.m. March 31 for a proclamation marking Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. The pinwheel garden, described by organizers as comprising over a thousand pinwheels, reflected the caseload of three agencies: 757 children served by the CACRC, 144 by the Rainbow Room, and 104 by CASA.
Rockwall County 382nd District Judge Brett Hall told attendees the county is very fortunate to have those three organizations dedicated to supporting children who suffer sexual abuse, and that the courts have seen fewer CPS referrals in the past year. Hall and 439th District Court Judge David Rakow both appoint volunteer advocates for CASA, who represent children in the foster care system across Rockwall and Kaufman counties.
The pinwheels, recognized as the national emblem for Child Abuse Prevention Month, will stay on the courthouse lawn through April as a month-long visual reminder of the scale of need.
Residents who suspect a child is being abused are required by Texas law to report it. The Texas Abuse Hotline takes calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-800-252-5400, and accepts online reports at TxAbuseHotline.org. In an emergency, call 911 first.
Those who want to do more can volunteer directly with the organizations behind the pinwheel garden. Lone Star CASA, which has operated in Rockwall and Kaufman counties for more than 30 years, recruits and trains community members to serve as court-appointed advocates for children in foster care. The CACRC provides intervention, counseling, and support for children referred through local law enforcement and the multidisciplinary team. Both organizations promoted volunteer sign-ups at the March 31 ceremony alongside educational materials and program details.
County materials described the annual event as designed to foster conversation about prevention, promote resources including counseling and emergency assistance, and honor the community's role in protecting children. With the pinwheels staying up through April, the courthouse lawn at 101 E. Rusk St. will serve as that prompt for anyone walking through downtown Rockwall this month.
Know something we missed? Have a correction or additional information?
Submit a Tip
