CareSource Joins Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, a Division of The Villages of Indiana for National Child Abuse Prevention Month

The Villages of Indiana and Prevent Child Abuse Indiana along with CareSource staff planted one thousand pinwheels this week to kick off April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month and honor the nearly 80,000 babies expected to be born in Indiana this year. 

“The pinwheel is a colorful image representing carefree children playing,” explained Shannon Schumacher, President and CEO of The Villages. “It takes action to move a pinwheel just as it takes action to prevent child abuse. We’re thankful of the action CareSource has taken as our partners for children.”

“CareSource is committed to the health and wellbeing of our youngest Hoosiers,” said Steve Smitherman, Indiana CareSource president. “Through this partnership with The Villages and Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, we hope to help create better futures for children across the state.”

Shannon Schumacher, The Villages of Indiana president and CEO, was joined by Sandy Runkle, program director Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, along with Steve Smitherman, CareSource Indiana market president to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana. They discussed the role each community member plays in protecting Indiana children and the importance of primary prevention.

The Villages of Indiana champions every child’s right to a safe, permanent, and nurturing home and serves more than 2,700 children and their families daily. This mission-driven, nonprofit agency is committed to strengthening all families and embracing the dignity and diversity of each child, youth and family served. As one of Indiana’s largest private non-profit family and child services agency, The Villages’ professional team provides foster care licensing and placement, adoption and post adoptions services, and wrap-around family support programs, which include Healthy Families, Kinship Care, Older Youth Services, and Family Preservation.

“Awareness efforts in Indiana community’s result in support, collaboration, and a commitment to strengthening families and providing resources for a better, safer tomorrow for all children,” said Schumacher. “Primary prevention is most effective at the community level, and as Hoosiers, we each play a vital role in keeping children safe, not only during Child Abuse Prevention Month, but year-round.”

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, a Division of The Villages, is dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect in all its forms and is committed to making Indiana a better, safer place for Indiana’s most precious resource – our children. Alongside committed volunteers throughout the state, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana increases awareness, informs about solutions, serves as a resource, advocates for expanded and improved programs and policies, and fosters a statewide network committed to child abuse prevention.