From Lompoc to Santa Maria to Solvang to Guadalupe, communities came together to raise awareness about child abuse and how the prevention of it needs to take priority. According to statistics, in 2020 over 2,360 total referrals investigated by family occurred in northern Santa Barbara County. To help raise awareness members of the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center along with Child Abuse Listening and Mediation (CALM), First 5 Santa Barbara County, Child Welfares Services, People Helping People, local city governments, and citizens planted pinwheels to raise awareness. In the Santa Maria region, which includes Orcutt, Los Alamos, Guadalupe, and New Cuyama 306 pinwheels were planted. Each pinwheel represents 5 children. In the Lompoc region which includes Buellton, Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Vandenberg, 166 pinwheels were planted. This year, members of the Pasadera neighborhood in Guadalupe, California planted an additional 750 pinwheels to raise awareness in their neighborhood. This outpouring of support is exactly what this work needs as ending abuse is everyone’s responsibility.
