Genesee County Health Department Supports Pinwheels For Prevention

Genesee County Health Department Supports Pinwheels For Prevention®

In support of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) staff members planted a Pinwheel Garden at the GCHD Burton Clinic site located at G-3373 S. Saginaw Street, Burton, MI 48529.

As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), child abuse is any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver (e.g., clergy, coach, and teacher) that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child under the age of 18.

There are four common types of abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. It is estimated that the lifetime cost of child abuse is $124 billion each year, and more than 3 million referrals of child abuse are received by state and local agencies each year—that's nearly 6 referrals every minute. The CDC recognizes child abuse as a public health issue. The Genesee County Health Department works collaboratively with other agencies promoting awareness of child abuse and strategies for preventing it.

The focus of this year’s Genesee County Health Department’s Public Health conference is on children’s health. “Securing Our Future: Protecting the Health of Genesee County Children,” is the title for the conference to be held on Tuesday, May 5th from 9 am-5 pm at the Flint Institute of Arts. The opening speaker, Carol Redding, M.A., will be presenting the Adverse Childhood Experience Study. This study provides evidence that the traumas children experience during childhood have a long-term impact on their health and wellbeing. For more information visit www.gchd.us. Our motto is “Better Life through Better Health.”