Northwestern SWAT fosters "Wooden Child" prevention of child abuse
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April 20, 2018
The 246 wooden characters displayed on the northeast corner of the Garfield County Courthouse are being used to increase community awareness of children abused or neglected in Garfield County.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Social Workers Association of Tomorrow (SWAT) has taken part in the "Wooden Children" project sponsored by the Garfield County Child Advocacy Center.
The Wooden Children project is designed to bring awareness to the number of child abuse cases that are investigated each year. In 2017, 246 confirmed cases of child abuse were reported in Garfield County.
Pictured are (from left) Levi Sanders, Goltry senior, SWAT president; Annie Moss, Enid senior, SWAT member; and Sierra Miller, Enid senior, SWAT secretary, with the "Wooden Children" at the Garfield County Courthouse.
Each wooden figurine is approximately two to three feet high and were cut out by volunteers from Vance Air Force Base. Once the forms were cut out, the Junior Welfare League and other individuals painted on the faces and hair.
Organizations, businesses, groups and individuals were asked to "foster" a wooden child for $25. The group sponsoring the child dressed and displayed them where they chose from March 14–30. On March 30 the Wooden Children were taken to the courthouse lawn to be displayed for all of April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
"Child abuse is such a silent action and is not majorly discussed that this event gives the opportunity to bring a visual representation of the severity of child abuse in this area," Jennifer Pribble, assistant professor of social work, said. "April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the amount of awareness this event is bringing to this community will hopefully assist with future prevention of child abuse."
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