TROY, N.Y. -- It may be hard to see the difference one pinwheel can make. But it could be the spark that is needed.

"There isn't an American that isn't concerned with child abuse," said Laurie McBain, from Healthy Families of Rensselaer County.

In all reality, these three year olds from the Samartin Rensselaer Children's Center have no idea what these pinwheels are supposed to represent, but that is undoubably a good thing. Hopefully its an issue they never have to deal with.

"Pinwheels for Prevention is really a message of hope," said McBain. "It really focuses on prevention so we don't have to treat children for abuse after the fact."

In New York alone, 80,000 cases of child abuse or neglect are reported each year, and sadly many more are never reported, and that expirence can impact a child for the rest of their life.

"We look at children that are suspected of developmental delays and a child that suffered abuse is definitely at risk and while it might show up right away, it could show up later," said Mary Fran Wachunas, public health director of Rensselaer County.

But programs do exist not only to treat children who are abuse victims, but to help parents and guardians prevent it in the first place.

Healthy Families can provide in home service to families pre-natally and all the way up to when students enter school at age 5," said McBain.

So while it seems simple, but something like this pinwheel could start a conversation that could end up saving a child's life. 

If you suspect child abuse, please call 1-800-244-5373.