By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and officials in Montgomery County, Pa. say the community really needs to step up to make sure our children are safe.

Holding pinwheels that are designed to shine the spotlight on the growing problem of child abuse nationwide, officials from law enforcement, social service agencies and county government gathered Monday at the courthouse in Norristown. They touted the county’s collaborative efforts to prevent and respond to abuse.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Ferman (lower right in photo, wearing red) says it’s good that the media continues to report on incidents of abuse.

“It tells members of the public that we treat our children properly and that there’s a collaboration between the Office of Children and Youth, the social service agencies, the court, and all of the disciplines that respond to child abuse, that we will be vigilant and that we will be on top of it,” she said.

She urged members of the community to report suspected incidents of child abuse to their local police departments, the DA’s office, or Childline, which is a statewide reporting agency.