Artwork reminds communities to protect our children from abuse and neglect
During the month of April — Child Abuse Prevention month — canvases painted by children will be displayed in community locations and Geisinger clinics. Painting for Prevention kits were distributed to children by community organizations throughout the Commonwealth to be painted for the displays. These organizations included the Nurse-Family Partnership, Susquehanna Valley United Way, Columbia County Family Center and the Geisinger Child Advocacy Center.
The Painting for Prevention project hopes to strengthen communities and unite community members in the common goal of preventing child abuse and neglect. The design for this year’s canvas includes an outline of a keystone with a kite in the center bearing a blue ribbon, which is a national symbol for child abuse prevention.
Cardstock versions of the canvases were also distributed to Danville, Millville, Shikellamy and Southern Columbia schools to be colored and displayed in the schools.
There are also two community events during the month of April. The Degenstein Library is hosting an event from 10 a.m. to noon on April 12, which will include opportunities for children to paint canvases and hear a talk from Pat Bruno, MD, Geisinger pediatric physician and a leading expert in child abuse prevention.
Volunteers will staff a booth at the upcoming Bloom Renaissance Street Fair on April 26 in Bloomsburg. The booth will have cardstock versions of the canvases for kids to color, free educational materials, face painting and swag items.
Artwork is on display at the several Geisinger clinics throughout the region including Woodbine, Bloomsburg, Lewisburg, Lewistown, Kulpmont and many more.
To get involved with this project or others by the PFSA, visit pafsa.org.
About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues across 163 care sites — including 10 hospital campuses — and Geisinger Health Plan, with more than half a million members in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 500 medical professionals annually and is conducting more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With more than 27,000 employees, including 1,800 employed physicians and 5,200 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers, having an estimated economic impact of $16.8 billion on the state’s economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
