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The statistics on child abuse in our area over the last year are staggering, and child advocates spent Monday drawing attention to the growing problem outside the Cascade County Courthouse.

CASA-CAN and the Great Falls Exchange Club set up a display as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The groups put up "pinwheels for prevention" along with cut-outs of "forgotten children."

During 2010, the number of children entering the foster care system in Cascade County due to abuse or neglect jumped 65%.

Kendra Wilson, a victim of abuse, said, "If people realize what abuse can do to children and children are our future, and if you abuse them, then our future is really nothing. And I think the more awareness we bring, the less likely it is to happen again."

John Parker, the Cascade County Attorney, noted, "Until people know the problem is real and are ready to make that call to law enforcement or to DFS, kids aren't protected. So I think by beginning with awareness, these volunteers are hitting the mark."

Parker says the Legislature can also do its part by passing House Bill 203, which is aimed at protecting more kids from abuse by allowing prosecutors to use previous sex crimes as evidence against a defendant.