By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — More than 400 blue pinwheels were stuck into the earth outside the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford this week as a reminder of how pervasive child abuse and neglect is in Winnebago County.
The 403 pinwheels along Parkview Avenue represent the children and families served by the college’s Medical Evaluation Response Initiative Team, or MERIT. That team provides children suspected of being physically or sexually abused or neglected with medical evaluations, treatment and advocacy.
“Each of them were scarred, were hurt and will have a lifelong sequelae of having gone through that experience,” said Dr. Alex Stagnaro-Green, dean of the college.
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The number of children MERIT serves are just a fraction of those affected by abuse and neglect.
Four children are physically or sexually abused each day in Winnebago County, according to data from the Department of Children and Family Services.
“The real numbers are way more than what you see,” MERIT Medical Director Ray Davis said.
Across the country there are 3.6 million reported cases of child abuse and neglect each year, and it’s estimated that there are two unreported cases for every one reported, Stagnaro-Green said.
“We are failing as a society in terms of taking care of our children, one of the most critical responsibilities we have as a civilized nation,” he said.
The college held a pinwheel ceremony Friday to draw attention to the severity of the issue here and across the country. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
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Stagnaro-Green said reducing the alarming numbers requires safe and affordable housing for families, access to high-quality preschool and after-school services, mental health and medical care, food security and fiscal support.
Mayor Tom McNamara, who spoke at the event, referenced a 2015 study from the Harvard University Center on the Developing Child that showed children who do well despite serious hardship have had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult.
“The number one thing that our children need, is they need someone to love them,” McNamara said. “They need someone to see them. They need someone to care for them, and they need all of you and all of the citizens of Rockford to step up.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas