TIFTON — Members from several concerned agencies and volunteers gathered fo the annual Pinwheels for Prevention ceremony held Tuesday on the lawn of the Tift County Courthouse, where 715 pinwheels were placed to illustrate the number of cases of abused and neglected children reported last year and to promote awareness of child abuse and neglect in the area.

Greg Millette, president of the Tift County Commission on Child Abuse spoke briefly at the event, encouraging all the volunteers and advocates of child abuse awareness to continue the “fight” against chlid abuse.

“We have a severe problem with child abuse and neglect in Tift County.” Millette said.

Millette said there were 715 cases of child abuse or neglect reported in 2008, up from the 580 reported cases in 2007 which Millette said is discouraging but could also point to a rise in awareness.

“It is possible and likely that our work in raising awareness has encouraged more people to come forward and report child abuse cases.” Millette said.

As of now, Tift County ranks 5th in the number of reported child abuse and neglect cases in Georgia’s 190 counties.

“We are in the top in a category where we want to be at the bottom.” Millette said. “Let’s work to bring these numbers down. We want to see fewer cases next year.”

Beth Lewis also spoke on the Blue Ribbon Campaign which also raises awareness on child abuse during April, Child Abuse Awareness month.

“We sell the ribbons to show committment to awareness as part of the national campaign. The ribbons are blue to represent the battered and bruised bodies of these children.” Lewis said.

Ribbons can be purchased for $20 and placed on mailboxes, cars and doors. They can be purchased through the Tift County Commission on Youth and Children by calling 388-1000.



To contact reporter Chivaun Perez, call 382-4321.