Bandera County Child Welfare Board has taken up the cause to proclaim April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month in Bandera County and to call on citizens, elected officials, community agencies, medical facilities, faith-based groups and businesses to increase efforts to support families.
The courthouse lawn will be decorated with pinwheels to represent abused children.
The Boys & Girls Club of Bandera County and Uvalde will parade down Main Street at 4:30 p.m., escorted by the Bandera Sheriff department. A proclamation will be read by the Bandera County judge.
The BCCWB works closely with Child Protective Service to ensure that the basic needs of foster children and their foster families receive funds necessary for their new environment.
The BCCWB is funded by Bandera County jurors’ donations.
Each year, children in Bandera County are removed from their homes because of parental neglect or abuse.
These innocent children are removed by CPS and placed in foster homes to temporarily care for them, intending to help reunify a child with their biological family after the issues causing the child to be placed into foster care are resolved.
There are currently 21 youth under CPS care from Bandera County.
Child abuse is more than physically hurting a child. There are various forms of child abuse.
Verbal and emotional abuse, like ridicule, can harm a child’s self-esteem. Neglect is a child abuse: leaving a child without supervision or with an inadequate caregiver; ignoring a child’s emotional, physical and educational needs; failing to provide healthy meals and ensure personal hygiene.
Parents and caregivers can play an important role in preventing child sexual abuse if they are aware of several facts.
Sexual abuse is more common than people think. Approximately 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before they turn 18. Sexual abuse is often committed by someone that the child knows and trusts, including family members.
Research has shown that up to 50% of child sexual abuse cases are committed by other youths. Sexual abuse can happen regardless of gender or age. Most sexual abuse is known to occur when a child is alone with an adult or older child.
Children must be taught about internet safety, be made aware of safe environments and understand that there is safety in numbers. Older children should be informed about designs of sex trafficking.
One is obligated by law to report suspected child abuse. If you suspect a child is in imminent danger, call 911. For all other cases in Texas, call the abuse and neglect hotline at 800-252-5400.
