The month of April brings awareness to child abuse, such has neglect, physical, emotional, and psychological.
In an effort to engage the community, Noah’s Hope, local agencies, and citizens placed pinwheels on the Tuscarawas County Courthouse steps, says Executive Director Mandy Willett.
“Of all the children in our county. Not just our county but nationwide that have suffered from some form of abuse or maltreatment through the course of a year.”
The blue and silver wheels signify the number of calls reported to Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services.
“They actually received 1,428 calls in 2024 in regard to kids in our county.”
In 2023, Noah’s Hope interviewed 179. Last year, they saw 203 children for forensic interviews.
“168 of those were Tuscarawas County kids but we also did interviews for other surrounding counties that don’t have a CAC so 35 of those were actually kiddos from other counties.”
Of the total number, 29 children were ages zero to 5, for ages six through 12 there was 104, in the age range of 13 to 17 Noah’s Hope interviewed 64 kids, and six were 18 and older.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2025