COLDSPRING — Each April, the San Jacinto County Child Welfare Board along with other counties throughout the state join hands with local government, community groups, churches, service organizations and hometown residents to put the spotlight on prevention, recognizing and reporting child abuse.
Every year, this event is a great opportunity for the county to make a difference in young people’s lives.
The Blue Pinwheel represented the great childhood that every child deserves and the role everyone plays in providing a loving and supportive environment for the children in the community. The San Jacinto County Child Protective Service has a display of Blue Pinwheels on the courthouse lawn around the gazebo, accompanied with blue lights, to represent the month of April as Child Abuse Awareness Month.
There is a group of 56 pinwheels that represent a child who was abused in our county during the years 2024-2025; thankfully, this is a decrease from the 84 confirmed victims for the previous year.
America’s children are the foundation of our families. National Child Abuse Prevention Month is a commitment to empowering every child in America to lead a fulfilling life of dignity and love. As residents, we are each entrusted with the responsibility of caring for our most vulnerable, our children, who may be at risk of trauma and/or abuse.
Child abuse comes in many forms. This year, President Trump signed Executive Order 14187 prohibiting public schools from indoctrinating children with transgender ideology. In March 2025, President Trump stated during his address to Congress that his message to every American child is simple: “You are perfect exactly the way God made you.”
Abused children are more likely to abuse substances, perform poorly in school or become Juvenile Delinquents. Millions of our tax dollars are spent annually to pay the financial price of child abuse, from child protective service and foster care costs to the cost of court, law enforcement, hospital, medicine and mental care cost.
As you drive by the San Jacinto Courthouse, I hope you enjoy the Blue lights, the Blue Ribbons and Bows and the Beautiful Blue Pinwheels. You will also notice the Child Abuse Prevention flag displayed on the flagpole at the courthouse lawn during the month of April. This has all been done to heighten public awareness of child abuse.
County Judge Fritz Faulkner and the Commissioners Court has issued an official proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness Month; April 27 will be “Blue Sunday” and all churches in our county are asked to participate in a day of prayer for the many children and families who have suffered.
If you suspect child abuse of a child, please call to 911 or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
