OttawaCountyStop Child Abuse and Neglect Council (SCAN)
The Ottawa County SCAN Council is a community based effort to prevent child abuse and neglect in Ottawa County. SCAN helps to coordinate child abuse prevention efforts to ensure we are working together as a community to protect children. We also work to raise awareness of the issue of child abuse in Ottawa County. Pathways, MI is the designatedMichigan Children’s Trust Fund Local Child Abuse and Neglect Council for Ottawa County.
SCAN is a member of the West Michigan Regional Child Maltreatment Team. As a region, we have been working on a strategic plan to prevent child maltreatment. All our activities and initiatives are designed to help build strong and healthy families throughout the community.
Since 1985, April has been nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month. Pathways, MI and the Ottawa County SCAN Council has used this special time each year to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child maltreatment in all its forms. To promote the need for the community to work together and for each of us to work individually, the SCAN Council hosts a variety of activities throughout the month of April to promote Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.
Pinwheels for Prevention
The Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign is a national effort to change the way our nation thinks about the prevention of child abuse and neglect. As the symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention, the pinwheel is an uplifting reminder of childhood and the bright futures all children deserve!
The Ottawa County SCAN Council participates in the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign by hosting a number of pinwheel gardens throughout the county.
In April 2013, we planted 17 Gardens, including 1,555 total Pinwheels! (Pictures coming soon!)
Use the coloring sheet provided and have children, youth and adults each color a pinwheel. These pinwheels can then be hung on a wall surround the poster located below.
The Ottawa County SCAN Council encourages all communities of faith to become involved in preventing child abuse and neglect. The SCAN Council offers a variety of ways to get involved.
Contact Leigh at lmoerdyke@pathwaysmi.orgor at 616-396-2301 if you are interested in participating in the Faith Based Campaign.
Prevention Awareness Day
Every year, Pathways, MI and the Ottawa County SCAN Council takes a trip to our state’s capital to educate policy makers on the issue of child abuse and neglect.
Prevention Awareness Day (PrAD) along with its theme “The Power of One” serves as the kickoff for April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month. A rally, procession and planting of a pinwheel garden take place downtown Lansing to show support for child abuse prevention programs in the state. Legislative Education Day (LED), a component of PrAD, provides Children’s Trust Fund grantees and other child advocates an opportunity to educate legislators about prevention needs and current programming across the state.
Together, we join as a positive presence of support in the belief that child abuse and neglect can be prevented. Your investment in healthy development contributes to community and economic development as flourishing children become the foundation of a thriving society. It is our responsibility as a community to create safe and nurturing environments in which to raise our children leads to happy and healthy children.
Michigan Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Rally 2013 - April 16th - Lansing, MI Capitol Steps
Please contact Jodi Glass at 616.396.2301 ext. 132 orjglass@pathwaysmi.org if you would like to become involved.
“The Power of One”, a statewide initiative, asserts that the power of one person, one community, one dollar, one action, etc. during April will help to protect children from abuse and neglect throughout Michigan. Through it’s CAP Month activities, the SCAN Council promotes our individual ability and responsibility to prevent child abuse and neglect, recognizing that collectively, through our individual action we can have a great impact.
CONTRACT FOR LIFE PROCLAMATION
Robert Anastas, the founder of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) came and spoke to students at Ottawa County High Schools on April 18th. Mr. Anastas is a former school administrator, teacher and hockey coach and lost two students to drinking and driving in 1981. Mr. Anastas spoke to students about developing responsible attitudes and making good decisions. He emphasized the fact that college is becoming more and more competitive and in order for students to succeed they need to be at their best. Mr. Anastas gave the students four keys to success and encouraged them to remain drug and alcohol free.
While Mr. Anastas only spoke to students in Ottawa County, he had a message for both students and parents. Mr. Anastas encouraged families to develop a contract where youth promise to call if they ever find themselves in a situation where a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In this same contract, the parent and/or guardian promises to pick up their youth or to arrange for another safe transportation option. The contract says that in the moment parents won’t lecture or discuss the issue, but will instead focus on making sure there is a safe option for the teen to get home. The contract does say the matter will be discussed later. The purpose of a contract like this is to give teens the reassurance they can call their parents if they are faced with uncomfortable or potentially difficult situations. Contracts like these can also help parents bring up the challenging topic of underage drinking and begin conversations with their teens early.
The Draft West 
The Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign is a national effort to change the way our nation thinks about the prevention of child abuse and neglect. As the symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention, the pinwheel is an uplifting reminder of childhood and the bright futures all children deserve!
Use the coloring sheet provided and have children, youth and adults each color a pinwheel. These pinwheels can then be hung on a wall surround the poster located below. 
