Pinwheel planting event is Thursday at courthouse

This Thursday at 12 noon, the community is invited to join the Okmulgee County Family Resource Center and other agencies on the lawn of the Okmulgee County Courthouse and wear Blue for Child Abuse Awareness.

“Join us in planting 130 pinwheels representing the children in foster care right now,” an agency representative stated. “Hear from Judge Pandee Ramirez talk about the status of our county’s foster care system.”

Attendees can also receive information on how to help a child who has been abused by becoming a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer or a foster parent.

According to the OCFRC, nearly 3,000 children are in foster care on any given day in Oklahoma, according to the agency. These children are victims of the most severe forms of abuse or neglect.

During April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and commu- nities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect. Prevention services and support developed by this collaboration can help to protect children and strengthen families.

The Okmulgee County Family Resource Center (OCFRC) is a community- based, nonprofit, social service agency formed to develop, organize and administer programs that aid families in Okmulgee, Creek and Okfuskee Counties and Creek Nation tribal members throughout the Tribal Service Area. They are dedicated to providing services for victims of domestic violence or sexual assault and to abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system.