Department of Family Services – Children, Youth and Families

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Oriane Eriksen
Director

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Pinwheels for Prevention Sprout Countywide Through Volunteer & Partner Services' Efforts

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(Posted 2022 June)

Firefighters posing with girl scout and pinwheel gardenDuring National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, the community answered the Pinwheel Challenge!

Volunteer & Partner Services joined with county and community partners including families, Girl Scout Troops, BeFriend-A-Child mentors and mentees, Fairfax County Police Department, and Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services dug in and “planted” hundreds of gardens to build awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention.

When Barbara Kyttle, the leader of Girl Scout Troop 50093 in Reston, became aware that the pandemic had been causing additional stressors on families in our community, she began wondering how she could make a difference. Knowing that Fairfax County's Child Protective Services Hotline received approximately 11,000 calls in Fiscal Year 2021, many from people seeking help, guidance, and resources motivated Kyttle.

Using A Sphere of Influence to Raise Awareness

pinwheel garden Dolley Madison Library

Kyttle decided to generate excitement within her daughter’s troop around the ways they could help to build community awareness about child abuse and neglect. The energized girls in Troop 50093 committed to planting 100+ Pinwheel Gardens throughout Fairfax County. As a result of their partnership with VPS, over 100 pinwheel gardens were in bloom at various locations throughout the county. 

The Girls Scouts and other community groups planted pinwheel gardens at Fairfax County locations such as government offices, fire stations, George Mason University, NCS Community Centers, Fairfax County Public Libraries, schools, and houses of worship. 

The girl scouts’ positive attitude was infectious, leading to photo ops with county officials, police officers, and firefighters, as well as a TV news story.

The troop of fifth graders also had the opportunity to take a Body Safety class to help them identify risks and stay safe. This experience reaffirmed for Barbara and the troop that together they could make an impact and do good for their community.
 

Check out pictures from our “gardeners” with their pinwheel gardens. 

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect is a year-round activity, so please use your spheres of influence to promote and build awareness. Check out our website with more ideas on how to do that. Together we can make a difference! 

Fairfax County’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention efforts seek to Build Stronger Families that can provide safe and healthy childhoods and lead to creating a strong, thriving community. The Department of Family Services’ Volunteer & Partner Services (VPS) Program engages volunteers and builds partnerships to support families with children who are at risk of abuse, neglect or placed in foster care or with relatives. The program builds volunteer capacity in the division, implements programs, and directs activities that promote positive relationships within the community.

This article posting is part of The Volunteer Post Newsletter for current and potential volunteers, sponsors and donors interested in supporting children and families in crisis. Learn more about Fairfax County Department of Family Services' Volunteer & Partner Services Program (VPS).

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