April Marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Each year, the month of April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This awareness month was created in order to highlight the importance of families and communities working together to protect children from abuse and neglect. Tragically, hundreds of thousands of children suffer from abuse and neglect in their daily lives. To help prevent abuse from occurring, it is first important to understand that child abuse is defined as any action that causes harm or injury to a child. According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), there are four main types of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. It is not uncommon that a child may be a victim of more than one type of abuse at a time. As a community, it is essential we work together to recognize and prevent child abuse in order to protect and strengthen families living in the Coastal Bend. This goal can be achieved by increasing awareness on the signs a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect as well as to identify the resources available to those living with abuse.
Understanding that early intervention is often the key to preventing child abuse from occurring, state lawmakers worked to enhance the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) division within the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services during the 2015 Texas legislative session. This division oversees a number of child abuse and neglect prevention and early intervention programs. Understanding that every community is unique, many of these programs are intended to provide prevention tools and resources on a local level. For example, the Healthy Outcomes and Prevention Early Support (HOPES) project provides support for community organizations focused on child abuse and neglect prevention services for families with children ages 0-5 years old. You can find more information about local PEI programs in our area, including participating HOPES organizations, online at PEI in Nueces County.
As part of the state of Texas’ Help for Parents, Hope for Kids campaign, the Texas DFPS has created a website dedicated to educational information about child abuse as well as available child abuse support services throughout the state. To access additional information about child abuse as well as to find local resources, please visit Help for Parents, Hope for Kids.
One of the national initiatives put in place to help diminish the abuse of children is the Administration for Children & Families (ACF), which is a division of the United States Department of Health & Human Services. This division was created in order to encourage healthy and strong communities and make a positive impact on both the development of children and their quality of life. The Administration for Children & Families achieves this by building partnerships with community-based stakeholders and providing frontline services to those affected by abuse. It also works to address the needs of vulnerable populations such as those with developmental disabilities. If you would like to learn more about this organization, additional information can be found on at Administration for Children and Families.
If you would like to follow the Texas House and learn more information on news, committees or other aspects of the legislative body, you can access its website at Texas House of Representatives. The site features live streaming from committee hearings as well as access to a number of other resources. You can also follow the Texas Senate at Texas Senate. For important information regarding transportation in the state, feel free to visit the Texas Department of Transportation. Other references are the Texas General Land Office, or visit the Texas Railroad Commission.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
