Every year in April for the last 13 years, Fayetteville and surrounding areas have been festooned with bright blue pinwheels in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
The pinwheels represent “the bright future every child deserves to have,” Faith Boehmer, Prevention and Volunteer Coordinator for the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville, explained. As they spin and flash, the pinwheels remind all who see them that not every child grows up in a secure, stable or nurturing environment.
According to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, over 4 million child maltreatment reports were made in 2021 involving over 7.2 million children. Of that number, only 2.9 children received prevention and post-response services.

Though the numbers are smaller, they are no less startling when viewed a bit closer to home.

“In 2021-2022, we had 808 [child abuse] referrals,” Boehmer shared. “Of that, 569 cases were followed by forensic interviews. Though our cases have doubled over the past 14 years, so have our efforts to educate the community.”

To bring awareness to the very real issue of child abuse and neglect in Cumberland County, the CAC has launched a month-long campaign to inform the community about resources, support and prevention.

As April gets underway, concerned community members can show their support in a number of ways. Community Pinwheel Kits containing 25 pinwheels and a yard sign are available on the CAC website for $50. Pinwheel vases, pins, jewelry and decals are also available for sale. All purchases must be made through the CAC website and picked up from the office during regular office hours. A portion of all sales supports the CAC and its continued effort to be “a voice for the children.”

There are seven scheduled pinwheel plantings around Cumberland County throughout April to increase the visibility of this ongoing crisis. Cumberland County Schools, Fayetteville State University, FTCC, the Town of Spring Lake, Methodist University, and the Town of Hope Mills will each hold a ceremony to plant 400 pinwheels in high-traffic areas to show their support for abused and neglected children.

Fayetteville is also encouraged to #ShopBlueDowntown for child abuse awareness in April. Twenty downtown merchants are raising awareness and funds on behalf of the CAC by offering special blue-colored items at a discount on select days throughout the month. A full list of participating merchants can be found on the CAC website, https://www.cacfaync.org/.

On Thursday, April 20, Cumberland County and Fort Bragg community partners will host their Annual Child Abuse Summit from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the John D. Fuller Sr. Recreational/Athletic Complex on Old Bunce Road in Fayetteville. This year’s summit will cover topics such as the dangers of sexting, human trafficking, the WORTH Court, the integration of clinical hypnosis and child abuse, and other areas of concern.

Filmmaker and child sexual abuse survivor, Sasha Neulinger, will be featured on the panel’s list of speakers to screen and discuss his documentary “Rewind” about the traumatic abuse he suffered at the hands of a family member.

The free summit is designed with professionals who work with at-risk children.
For more information and a full list of activities, speakers and programs, visit https://www.cacfaync.org/.