As legislators walk into the state Capitol this week, they will see vivid reminders of the thousands of children reported as abused this year in Hawaii. The lawn there is covered with twirling, shining pinwheels that were planted Sunday in Hawaii’s third annual Pinwheels for Prevention event, co-sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, the state Department of Health and the Child Abuse Prevention Planning Council.

This comes at a time when many government and nonprofit agencies that are Hawaii’s front-line defense against child maltreatment are struggling to stay open. These organizations provide evidence-based prevention services to keep children and families safe. Activities, such as public awareness, home visitation programs, parent education and early identification of risk factors are essential components of a safe, healthy, prosperous community.

Abuse and neglect lead a child into a maze of inefficient social service systems and unwanted outcomes such as criminal activities, poor health, school failure and substance abuse. Hawaii should seal off the door to this maze. How?

Make child abuse prevention a priority to save children’s lives, save taxpayer dollars and enhance public safety.

>> Save lives: For every 100,000 children in the U.S., more than two die because of abuse or neglect — more than 1,700 children each year. Children who are not killed are likely to suffer lifelong effects from the maltreatment.

>> Prevent crime: Most abused children will not commit crimes, but most criminals were victimized as children. Severe abuse and neglect can permanently change children’s brains, making them less able to learn empathy and properly interpret human interactions and more likely to become involved with the justice system.

>> Save money: Child abuse is expensive. In 2007, Prevent Child Abuse America estimated that the annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the U.S. was $103.8 billion.

What prevention activities will keep kids safe in Hawaii?

>> Build on successful initiatives such as Hawaii’s Healthy Start Program, Early Head Start and Head Start, the Institute for Family Enrichment parenting programs, and the Blueprint for Change Neighborhood Place Model. These programs support parents, strengthen families, and develop protective factors in families and communities.

>> Evidence-based early home visitation programs that provide voluntary services to our most vulnerable children help prevent child abuse and neglect, increase the birthweight and overall health of babies at birth, improve the safety of children’s homes and increase children’s readiness to learn.

>> High-quality early education programs — especially those that involve parents — enhance the physical, emotional and social well-being of children, provide protective factors for families that buffer children from abuse, and reduce the likelihood that these children someday will abuse their own children.

We know what is needed to prevent child abuse, save children’s lives, prevent crime and save taxpayer dollars.

What we need now is Hawaii’s leaders to invest in what works to keep Hawaii’s keiki safe and healthy.