WilCo Promotes Child Abuse Prevention Month

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TEXAS — April is National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, and Williamson County is spreading the word throughout the region.

The Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center encourages the community to join together to support “Strong and Thriving Families,” which serves as this year’s theme. Research shows that protective factors such as nurturing and attachment, social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete supports for parents, and social and emotional competence of children are present in healthy families, officials noted. Promoting these factors is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect, officials added.

“We want to educate the public to ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children and create strong and thriving families,” explained Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center CEO Kerrie Stannell.

Related story: Texas Officials Promote Child Abuse Prevention Month

To bring awareness regarding child abuse, blue pinwheels were placed in front of the Children’s Advocacy Center, 1811 S.E. Inner Loop, in Georgetown, to represent child abuse victims. Blue is the color of prevention. In addition, large blue ribbons were placed on each corner of the Courthouse Square, and Williamson County has blue lights shining inside the historic courthouse dome in support.

Moreover, the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a proclamation Tuesday making April Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in Williamson County. Grim statistics related to abuse speaks to the need to heighten awareness: In 2017, 596 cases of child abuse and neglect in Williamson County were confirmed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, officials said.

The proclamation states that in Texas, all adults 18 and older are considered “mandatory reporters” and “are charged with officially reporting any and all suspected cases of abuse to the 1-800-252-5400 Abuse Hotline so that local professionals can properly investigate and intervene in a timely manner to keep children safe from abuse in Williamson County.”

The Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center is the first stop for Williamson County children who are suspected victims of abuse and neglect or who have witnessed a violent crime. For more information on the organization, visit https://wilcocac.org.