According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2006, an estimated 872,000 children are abused and neglect every year.

In the city of Richmond alone, more than 2,400 children were reported as having been abused or neglected in 2006-2007 and 228 of these children were documented victims of abuse and neglect, as stated in a Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) news release.

Whether it's an increase in population or that incidents are reported with more frequency, child abuse and neglect has come to the forefront as one of the most pervasive social issues in our society today.

In 1983, April was declared National Child Abuse Prevention Month and to help raise awareness and prevention, the Greater Richmond SCAN is taking its mission straight to face of the public.

Stemming off the 20-year initiative known as the "blue ribbon campaign," is the implementation of the blue pinwheel as the national symbol of the campaign against child abuse and neglect.

Accordingly, some 10,000 of those pinwheels will be sprouting up all over Richmond this month.

"For years the blue ribbons were used to symbolize what happens as a result of child abuse," said Jeanine Harper, executive director of the Greater Richmond SCAN.

"And over the last couple of years, especially at the national level, they had looked at the message around prevention and had come to the conclusion that they wanted to have a symbol that was less about the bruises and more about children from a positive perspective."

To communicate this positive perspective, the message of child abuse prevention has since transcended from reactive to proactive.

"Instead of saying here's what happens if you don't prevent abuse, we're saying here is what every child should have," Harper said. "Which is a happy, safe and nurturing childhood that is filled with play and not pain and suffering."

The area between the Business building and Student Commons on Virginia Commonwealth University's campus is now home to anywhere between 800 and 1,000 blue pinwheels. Other businesses scheduled to "plant" these giant pinwheel gardens include the Children's Museum and Reveille Weekday School.

Pinwheel gardens are not solely limited to organizations. Richmonders can visibly demonstrate their personal promise to keep children in our community safe by purchasing pinwheels of their own.

Each pinwheel is only $1 and can be ordered by contacting Greater Richmond SCAN at 804-257-7226.

To become further involved with the prevention of child abuse, the Greater Richmond SCAN will also be hosting Stewards of Children, a national child sexual abuse prevention program training session from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 at the Greater Richmond SCAN office located at 1506 Staples Mill Road in Suite 203. Call SCAN to register and for more information.