Pinwheels line the entrance to Vandalia Health CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital in observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, according to a press release from Vandalia Health.
Each April, the hospital places the pinwheels in honor of the more than 900 abused children helped by CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital annually.
When the CAMC Children’s Advocacy Center opened in 2005, it was the first hospital-based center in the state and the first to incorporate all the necessary components for the care and treatment of children suspected of being the victims of child sexual abuse. Before the center opened, a child would have to go to several places including law enforcement, child protective services and even an emergency room for a physical examination. At each place, the child would have to retell what had happened. The center makes it easier for the child who may be scared and confused.
Providing all necessary services at the center allows for a more child-centered approach and better outcomes for children and families.
The CAMC Children’s Advocacy Center is accredited by the National Children’s Alliance and serves Kanawha, Putnam, Jackson and Roane counties. It also provides victim advocacy and case management services so that children and their families are supported during the evaluation, investigation and treatment of the child.
