Community comes together in support of its children

Representatives of Fallon and Churchill County, human service agencies, schools, faith communities, health care providers, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community came together April 7 to show their support for the local children.

The crowd gathered at Millennium Park for the Child Abuse Prevention Month kickoff. Churchill County Commissioner Dr. Justin Heath emceed the ceremony.

“Today launches one month of building awareness of not only child abuse that occurs in our community, but nationally. The goal is to increase family ties, commit support and increase youth engagement to reduce child abuse,” he said.

Mayor Ken Tedford read the proclamation which he and Commissioner Chairman Harry “Bus” Scharmann had signed declaring April 2023 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Fallon and Churchill County.

Tedford called on community support from the proclamation “...and in doing so call upon all citizens to educate themselves about preventing child abuse and neglect to ensure the safety of all who live, learn, and play in our community.”

Court Administrator Tiffany Josephs spoke on behalf of the Court Appointed Special Advocate program that provides support for abused and neglected children who are going through the court system. The advocates give each child a voice while the system works towards finding them a safe home, whether that means reuniting with their parents, entering into foster care, or adoption.

Since its creation in 2014, the volunteer advocates in Churchill County have been appointed to a total of 85 cases representing 137 children. Currently, seven volunteers are providing advocacy for 25 children.

In partnership with the community and Churchill County Kids Kloset, CASA also provides clothing, shoes, personal hygiene items and school supplies for youth in Division of Child and Family Services custody. The Kids Kloset accepts donations of new or very gently used items.

Next Sheriff Richard Hickox expressed his appreciation for the hard work put into the event.

“Child abuse is something that we at the sheriff's office and the Fallon Police Department deal with on a very first-hand basis. I’m very proud of Churchill County and the City of Fallon for taking this opportunity to raise awareness.”

The short ceremony concluded with an invitation to take a pinwheel and “plant” it at work or home as part of “Pinwheels for Prevention.” Many blue pinwheels have already been planted throughout town as an uplifting reminder of childhood and the bright futures all children deserve.

According to Churchill County Social Services Director Shannon Ernst, locally the pinwheels do not represent individual child abuse cases reported. They are decorations planted in very visible locations to raise awareness of the issue. She credited the team at social services for their hard work in coordinating the campaign.

“Every year we’re trying to build more events, especially during the month of April, to bring that awareness forward of positive parenting. So we have a lot of activities for families to have fun and play together,” she said.

The schedule of activities includes geocaching and making pinwheels and can be found on the ChurchillCounty.gov website and Facebook. A family carnival at the Pennington Life Center April 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. ends the month.