Hoops Family Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month with pinwheel planting

In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Marshall Health Network - Hoops Family Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center (HFCH CAC) held a special ceremony on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, to plant pinwheels in front of the hospital. Pinwheels are a national symbol for child abuse prevention, representing the playfulness and innocence of childhood. The pinwheel planting raises awareness about the impact of child abuse on children in West Virginia.

In 2024, the Child Advocacy Center served 285 children who were victims of alleged sexual or physical child abuse or neglect across the region. HFCH CAC Coordinator Angela Seay said providing the necessary services to these children would not be possible without the power of partnerships across the Tri-State.

Angela Seay, center, and others plant pinwheels in front of Hoops Family Children's Hospital in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

“At our Child Advocacy Center, we strive to protect children from the added trauma of repeating their story multiple times to doctors, law enforcement and investigators,” Seay said. “Instead, they speak with a trained interviewer who asks the right questions in a safe, supportive environment. From there, a team of professionals collaborates to determine the best course of action, which may include therapy, courtroom preparation, victim advocacy or medical care. None of this would be possible without the strong partnerships we’ve built with local agencies.”

Representatives from the Cabell County Prosecutor’s office, West Virginia State Police, Huntington Police Department, Barboursville Police Department, the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Pea Ridge Women’s Club, Child Life, CONTACT, Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Goodwill Family Services, Children’s Home Society and the WV Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Parents Network were in attendance for the annual pinwheel ceremony.

Community partners, including police officers, place pinwheels in the ground in front of Hoops Family Children's Hospital in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

“One of the most powerful ways to help a child is simply to be there for them,” Seay said. “Having a supportive, trusted adult can make a world of difference in a child’s recovery and future. And if you ever suspect abuse or neglect, reporting it could be the first step in changing that child’s life for the better.”

Learn more about the efforts of the HFCH CAC by visiting www.hoopschildrens.org/facilities-programs/child-advocacy-center/.