“Our Children Are Our Most Valuable Resource”: St. Mary’s County Unites For Child Abuse Prevention Month

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — What Commissioner Eric Colvin described as “one of the most unfortunate or difficult proclamations we do all year” also served as a powerful reminder of the community’s shared responsibility to protect its youngest residents.

During the April 28 meeting of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, Colvin formally proclaimed April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, recognizing both the challenges and the collaborative efforts underway to support children and families across the county.

“All right. Well, this is probably one of the most unfortunate or difficult proclamations we do all year, but it is heartening that we have such a strong group here for it,” Colvin said. “So thank you all for being here this morning.”

The proclamation emphasizes that “our children are our most valuable resource” and affirms that every child deserves “to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing environment, free from abuse and neglect.”

This year’s national theme, “Pinwheels of Possibility,” highlights the importance of collective action — bringing together families, communities and service systems to ensure children grow up safe, supported and full of opportunity.

Colvin noted that prevention efforts depend heavily on partnerships between local law enforcement, human services, health care providers, legal professionals and mental health experts — a coordinated network working to identify risks and support families in need.

Following the proclamation, Alexis Zoss spoke about the deeper meaning behind the month’s observance and the work happening locally.

“It is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, when we focus on raising awareness, strengthening families and fostering community involvement to prevent child maltreatment,” Zoss said. “This is a month to highlight what children and their families need to ensure healthy development.”

She emphasized the importance of early intervention and building “protective factors,” including strong family bonds, parental resilience, social connections and emotional support systems — all critical elements in preventing abuse before it occurs.

Locally, these efforts are supported by the St. Mary’s County multidisciplinary team, a group of professionals from across agencies who meet regularly to coordinate resources and ensure vulnerable children receive the protection and care they need.

A visible symbol of the campaign can be found throughout the community: blue pinwheels.

“Every year, we put up the blue pinwheels exhibit,” Zoss said. “It represents hope and the bright futures that all children deserve.”

She added that the display — often seen outside offices and public spaces — has even become a point of curiosity and joy for local children, reinforcing its message of possibility and resilience.

The proclamation concluded with a call to action, urging residents, organizations and businesses alike to work together to prevent child abuse and strengthen the community.

“Now, therefore, we, the commissioners of St. Mary’s County, do hereby proclaim the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month … and call on all citizens … to work together, to prevent child abuse, and strengthen the community in which we live,” Colvin read.

Dozens of representatives from agencies across the county, including the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, the Department of Social Services, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Child Advocacy Center, the Maryland State Police and other local agencies, were in attendance. The strong turnout reflected the collaborative effort across organizations working to protect children and support families throughout St. Mary’s County.

State’s Attorney Carolynn Grammas praised the dedication of local professionals.

“The dedicated men and women that I’ve come to know in the last seven, eight months are really outstanding … and really, for the state of Maryland, number one,” she said.

As the meeting concluded, the message remained clear: while the issue is difficult, the commitment across St. Mary’s County to protect children and support families remains strong and unwavering.

You can watch the full proclamation for National Child Abuse Prevention Month below at 10:21.

---