Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block will host its annual community event, Pinwheels for Prevention, on Thursday, April 13, recognizing National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the community. The event is free of charge and will be held at the Creative Discovery Museum from 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday.
"CKOB will kick off the free community event at 4:30 p.m. by planting a blue Pinwheel Garden in front of the museum, in efforts to raise awareness about child abuse prevention in the community where we live and work.
The Pinwheel Garden is to initiate and encourage every person who sees it to become actively engaged in protecting children from abuse and neglect," officials said.
Following the planting of the Pinwheel Garden, CKOB will host its 10th Annual Pinwheels for Prevention event during the museum’s free family night in April. CKOB will be handing out safety kits that include bracelets, activity sheets, crayons, magnets, and identification cards. Several local community resource agencies will participate with hands on activities for children and resource information for adults. With the help of The Chattanooga Kappa Delta Alumnae Association, children will have the opportunity to create and design greeting cards and donate them to children who have or are experiencing maltreatment and illness in our community. Participants will enjoy two puppet performances by Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block which address child abuse prevention and safety, as well as a safety demonstration by Rick Hall and Greg Roy.
"Throughout the month of April, Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block will continue to help empower children in our community and share the responsibilities in the community to keep children safe and healthy by partnering with Matt Hodges for a Stop Child Abuse Campaign. Through this campaign Mr. Hodges speaks about the fact that society isn’t aware of the common nature of abuse representative of the few cases that get reported. Due to this, the perpetrator continues to operate unfettered and has the freedom to continue harming more children. As a victim of abuse Mr. Hodges says, 'Awareness and building an environment where children feel comfortable telling their experiences is the beginning of stopping this dangerous cycle. The best way to achieve this is through educating children that they need to speak up if they see something happen or are the unfortunate victims. This is achieved through building a nonthreatening environment of warmth, trust, and comfort as is available through Kids on the Block.'"
More information and how you can support this campaign can be found on CKOB website www.kidsontheblock.net or by visiting causestoker.com.
On Friday, April 7, 2017 the state of Tennessee will recognize wear Blue day in support of Child Abuse Prevention month.
The 10th Annual Pinwheels for Prevention is sponsored by: Tennessee Arts Commission, Arts Build, Times Free Press, Advance Finical, and Peace Communication.
Kids on the Block uses child-size puppets to communicate with children, giving them skills to stay safe and healthy. The personal safety program addresses child abuse through the eyes of an eleven and fourteen year old puppet kid. “We see children looking up to the puppet “kids” as though they are peers,” said Wendy Davis, CKOB Puppeteer Educator and Statistician. “The children in our educational programs find it easier to open up and talk to the puppet kids due to the non-threatening environment we create. Many find it easier to share their secrets with puppet friends.”
For more information, about Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block visit www.kidsontheblock.net or call the CKOB office at 423-757-5259.