Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Local officials and child welfare advocates gathered at HSHS St. John’s Hospital on Thursday to proclaim April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, launching a campaign centered on community-wide intervention.

The event, themed “Pinwheels of Possibility,” featured the ceremonial planting of blue pinwheels outside of the building. The pinwheels serve as a national symbol for the healthy, safe childhood life that advocates say every child deserves.

Brian Brennan, President and CEO of HSHS Central Illinois, noted that one in seven children in the U.S. is affected by abuse or neglect annually. Brennan said the hospital’s staff is trained to look beyond medical treatment to prioritize the active protection of children.

“Our physicians, providers, and caregivers here are giving world-class care,” Brennan said. “But they are also trained… to really protect children. It is the second part of their calling that is extremely important.”

Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher issued an official proclamation for the month but expressed a desire for a future where such awareness campaigns are no longer necessary.

“I read police reports where children are abused and neglected in Springfield a lot,” Buscher said. “This awareness needs to be spoken about every day, not just in April. My goal is to never see a police report with child abuse on it again.”

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) used the kick-off to highlight an agency-wide shift toward a “child well-being system.” Maria Miller, Chief Deputy Director of DCFS, said the department is implementing new processes this year to modernize its workforce and strengthen the support provided to families.

“Work at DCFS is transformative,” Miller said. “Progress in child welfare depends on genuine collaboration… across government agencies, our schools, and with families.”

Miller noted that the department will launch a new engagement approach this summer called “Forward Together” to better understand the unique needs of each family.

Tarra Winters, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, said the pinwheel display is intended to shift the public conversation from reacting to trauma to building proactive support systems.

“Prevention begins when families and communities are empowered to define what support looks like,” Winters said. “We are moving toward collective responsibility.”

The pinwheels will remain on display at the hospital through the end of April.