The pinwheels spinning in front of The Treehouse on Gordon Avenue serve as a reminder of what this month is — and as a reminder of the victims of child abuse.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and there are a number of ways to help alleviate the problem.

Children are some of the most vulnerable members of society. The younger they are, the less likely they are to form the ability to determine right and wrong and the less likely they are to know how to form bonds beyond their immediate world. 

Abuse can take on many forms. For children, often, and far too often, the abuse is physical in nature. It also can be emotional and psychological. 

The numbers surrounding child abuse are staggering. According to the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, in fiscal year 2014, there were more than 137,000 cases reported to Child Protective Services that were investigated or received family support.

According to the Child Welfare League of America, there were 108,718 total referrals for child abuse and neglect, and 82,050 of those were referred for investigation. Also in 2015 there were 26,952 victims of abuse and neglect in Georgia, according to Child Welfare League of America statistics, a rate of 10.8 per 1,000 kids. That was an increase of 21.6 percent from 2014. Of those nearly 27,000 child victims, neglect accounted for nearly three-fourths of the cases.

The Child Welfare League of America also reports the number of child victims increased more than 45 percent from 2011 to 2015.

Along with the human toll, there are financial costs associated with child abuse. According to DFCS, the cost of child maltreatment nationally in 2013 was $33 billion and with indirect costs, the tab was $44 billion.

Locally, victims of child abuse can turn to The Treehouse for help.

The Treehouse opened in 2011 and has been serving local children since. There, they can be interviewed in a safe environment. If you want to help The Treehouse, they have a wish list of items, especially those for self-care kits, which are filled with “useful and uplifting” items given to the children The Treehouse sees. 

For more on what the The Treehouse does and what it needs, visit treehousethomasville.org.