Pinwheels Planted in San Angelo to Mark Start of Child Abuse Prevention Month

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Children’s Advocacy Center of Greater West Texas hosted its annual Pinwheel Ceremony on Tuesday morning, officially launching Child Abuse Prevention Month with a call for year-round community involvement.

Held on the CAC campus at 3418 Town & Country Dr., the event drew dozens of child advocates, law enforcement officials, educators, and children who helped plant blue pinwheels — the national symbol of a joyful, carefree childhood.

“We proudly stand with many child welfare agencies to make this one promise: you are not alone,” said Morgan Janca, Marketing and Development Coordinator for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Greater West Texas. “We support you, and we care about who you are and the future we want you to have.”

Tom Green County Sheriff Nick Hanna addressed the crowd, urging adults to reflect on people who protected them as children and to consider how they can play that role for others today.

“When we stand up for something, people might try to knock us down,” Hanna said. “But we are resolute in our mission to serve kids.”

Hanna also cited statistics showing the local need for intervention. In 2024, the CAC served more than 5,800 children and families, while the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services conducted over 900 child abuse investigations in the Concho Valley region, confirming more than 250 cases.

Justin M. DeLoach, CEO of the CAC, closed the ceremony by challenging attendees to extend their advocacy beyond the month of April.

“We want this to be a 365-day-a-year effort, and that's what today represents,” DeLoach said. 

Children from area schools, including TLCA, Ambleside, San Angelo Christian Academy, and others, participated in the event, which concluded with a group chant — “Stand up for children” — followed by the planting of pinwheels around the center’s campus.

The CAC’s partners in the event included the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office, San Angelo Police Department, CASA, Child Protective Services, Shannon Medical Center, and regional law enforcement agencies. 

For more information or to get involved, contact the CAC at (325) 653-HOPE or visit cacgreaterwtx.org.