The City of Bandera has declared April as Child Abuse Prevention Month following an official proclamation by Mayor Denise Griffin at the March 25 City Council meeting.
The proclamation aims to bring awareness to what Suzanne Tomerlin, crisis response team coordinator for the Hill Country Crisis Council (HCCC), calls a public health crisis.
The proclamation, read by Griffin, states: “WHEREAS, children are our nation’s most vulnerable members as well as our nation’s most valuable resources, helping to shape the future of Texas; and WHEREAS, positive childhood experiences, like loving caregivers and safe, stable, and nurturing relationships, can help mitigate trauma and the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences to promote the social, emotional, and developmental well-being of children; and WHEREAS, childhood trauma can have longterm, psychological, emotional, and physical effects throughout an individual’s lifetime and impact future generations of their family; and WHEREAS, childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, is a serious problem affecting every community in the U.S., and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone; and WHEREAS, prevention is possible because of the partnerships created between Texas families, prevention advocates, child welfare professionals, education, health, community, faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and local, state, and national governments; and WHEREAS, we acknowledge that in order to solve the public health crisis of abuse and neglect, we must work together to change hearts and mindsets through storytelling and sharing, center the needs of families, break down bias and barriers, and inspire action from expected and unexpected partners in prevention; and WHEREAS, we are committed to advancing equitable, responsive, and effective systems that ensure all children and families are healthy and thriving; and WHEREAS, we recognize the need to prioritize kids and invest in more prevention initiatives like home visiting and family- strengthening policies, economic supports, and community-based child abuse prevention programs at the national, state, and local levels; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Denise Griffin, Mayor of Bandera, do hereby proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and urge all citizens to recognize this month by building a narrative of hope for children and families through collaboration and the creation of an ecosystem of primary prevention.”
Displaying the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation outside City Hall. From left to right: Sandra Egging with CASA and Kelsey Howarth with Hill Country Crisis Council. Courtesy Photos
Tomerlin emphasized that this proclamation is an important step in acknowledging and addressing the issue.
“The real prevalence of child abuse is unknown,” she said, noting that studies suggest only 8-20% of children ever disclose their abuse.
Some disclose as adults, while others never speak of it. Research estimates that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday, meaning that approximately 724,000 children born in the U.S. last year will experience abuse before adulthood, according to a relesae from HCC.
To combat child abuse, HCCC operates a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), where children who have disclosed abuse or witnessed domestic violence undergo forensic interviews.
These interviews, conducted by trained professionals in a child-friendly environment, are often the only evidence available in court cases. The goal is to minimize trauma by reducing the number of times a child must recount their experience.
Following the interview, a multidisciplinary team—including investigators, prosecutors, counselors, medical professionals, and child welfare workers—collaborates on the case. HCCC provides counseling and legal support for victims, staying involved until the case reaches a conclusion.
According to Tomerlin, HCCC’s CAC conducts more than 350 forensic interviews annually. Texas law requires all adults to report any suspicion of child abuse, with no threshold beyond reasonable suspicion.
HCCC serves Bandera, Kerr, Kendall, Kimble, and Gillespie counties, offering support to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The organization’s services are confidential and free of charge. Those in need of assistance can contact HCCC at 888-621-0047.
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