On Sunday, members of the Youth Corps, a Kids in Crisis-sponsored volunteer group comprised of high school students from throughout the area, installed a striking visual representation of the substantiated cases of abuse and neglect against children in Fairfield County at the Darien Library.
A total of 1,864 pinwheels—representing the 1,864 children abused and neglected in Fairfield County last year—were placed outside on the Library’s front lawn along the Post Road in recognition of April’s designation as National Child Abuse Awareness Month. They will remain on display until April 5.
During the installation, Youth Corps members also shared need-to-know information on abuse and neglect, as well as action steps that can be taken to prevent child abuse.
“Many people think that abuse and neglect doesn’t happen in Fairfield County,” said Shari Shapiro, Executive Director of the Greenwich-based Kids in Crisis, “but these numbers show that children are in harm’s way in every city and town, in our very own neighborhoods, every day.
“Sadly, of course, these numbers reflect only the substantiated cases; there are many more children who experience neglect and abuse. The focus that Youth Corps members can bring to this epidemic and the education efforts they have created will help Kids in Crisis continue its work to help families and children with issues before they become a crisis.”
Kids in Crisis (www.kidsincrisis.org) is Connecticut’s only free, round-the-clock agency providing intervention services, counseling, and emergency, temporary shelter for children newborn to 17 years old.
Since its founding in 1978, Kids in Crisis has helped more than 107,000 children and families from Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton through a unique combination of outreach, emergency services and community prevention programs.
