April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Brightside Child & Family Advocacy will host a Pinwheel Garden Planting Ceremony on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. This ceremony will occur at Grayson Stadium (1401 E Victory Drive) at 9:00 AM. This Pinwheel Garden Planting Ceremony brings awareness to a critical community issue. Each pinwheel represents a child within the foster care system within Chatham County. Pinwheels reflect our hope for the children of our community, a happy and carefree childhood.

Brightside Advocacy is proud to partner with the Savannah Bananas for another consecutive year. Owners Jesse and Emily Cole are foster parents and understand firsthand the importance of protecting and supporting children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

As the local Prevent Child Abuse Council, Brightside Advocacy is committed to elevating the importance of creating systems and programs to put children and families first. We recognize that all community members have a role in ensuring children have positive experiences and families have the resources they need when they need them, well before they are in crisis. The theme of this year’s awareness and impact campaign, led by Prevent Child Abuse America and its national network of state chapters, is “Building Together: Prevention in Partnership.”

Extreme stress and uncertainty for families may increase the risk of child abuse and neglect, raising the need to support families and prevent abuse before it occurs. Child abuse and neglect are preventable, and all communities benefit when children and families are well supported.

There are nearly 300 children in foster care in Chatham County, and each of those children deserves to have a CASA volunteer fighting for them. Savannah CASA volunteers increase access to services, promote safety, and advocate for timeliness and permanency for children involved in juvenile court proceedings. Bright House provides court-mandated supervised visitation and family support services in a home-like setting to strengthen family relationships and work towards reunification. For those interested in helping to prevent child abuse in our community, please visit brightsideadvoacy.org.