Each April, people across the country join together during National Child Abuse Prevention Month to help raise awareness and promote ways we can all help to strengthen families in our communities. To learn more about Child Abuse Prevention Month in Washington State, view the attached toolkit.

How to get involved

As one of the organizations leading this campaign in our state, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Strengthening Families Washington team would like to invite you to take part in Pinwheels for Prevention. Your participation could make a world of difference in the life of a child, family or community.

The pinwheel represents our efforts to change the way the state thinks about prevention, by focusing on programs and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start. Strengthening Families Washington is the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, the leading organization working solely to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children. For more information, please visit Prevent Child Abuse America's Pinwheels for Prevention page.

Last year DCYF distributed around 15,000 pinwheels to communities around the state. Pinwheels for Prevention is a reminder that it is not enough to just respond to child abuse and neglect – we must build and support strong families through community engagement, programs, and policies. This movement works towards developing communities that are healthy, safe, and nurturing for all children and families.

This year, the pinwheel ordering process is looking a bit different. In order to accommodate credit card purchases, DCYF is partnering with Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to facilitate pinwheel orders. You will be able to order directly from the DCYF portion of the MyPrint website, simply scroll down to "Prevent Child Abuse Pinwheel," or enter pinwheel in the search bar. You will have the option to order by credit card or you can request to pay by check, once your check is received, DES will ship out the pinwheels. For both options, once payment is received, there is a three-day turnaround for the items.

Please note, you will need to create a MyPrint account to be purchase the pinwheels. If your organization is tax exempt, there is a tax exempt button on the website as well. If you are placing an order larger than 960 (4 cases), please email DCYF at strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov for support to ensure you are receiving the lowest cost possible. You are able to place multiple orders at once as well as send to multiple recipients if needed.

The pricing this year will go as follows:

DCYF acknowledges this is a significant increase in price and apologizes for this inconvenience. This is due to increases nationally and, please know, DCYF is doing its best to keep costs as low as possible.

Please don't hesitate to email strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov, if you have any questions or need help navigating the system.

This year there is also the option to plant a virtual pinwheel garden with the national office. Virtual pinwheels start at $10 each and you can dedicate them to a person or organization, as well as customize a message or donation amount to either the national Prevent Child Abuse America organization or our Washington State Chapter.

In addition, DCYF will have several items available to order separately. The coloring books (both the What Makes a Hero and the original Protective Factors coloring book can be ordered free of charge from the DES website. This year DCYF will also have free printable coloring pages, temporary tattoos, stickers and pinwheel posters. These items can be requested at strengtheningfamilies@dcyf.wa.gov.

All proceeds go to the Children’s Trust of Washington to support community prevention efforts.

Limited quantities of pinwheels are available; pinwheels will be provided on a first come, first served basis.