Commissioners Court Proclaims April As Child Abuse And Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month

Throughout the year, with 75 Hays volunteers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) helped 188 Hays children by advocating as Guardian Ad Litem in courts, schools and the child welfare system… 

Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX – On Tuesday the Hays County Commissioners Court asked citizens to focus on awareness and prevention of Child Abuse and Sexual Assault, and proclaimed April Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month as well as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

“Often, these two crimes are related, and there is a great need for all citizens to be aware of the signs and to know how to prevent and report these assaults on our most vulnerable citizens,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell said.

Visit the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) at www.hcwc.org for more information about preventing and reporting child abuse and sexual assault.

Court members all expressed their appreciation to the groups who care for and support victims of child abuse and sexual assault.

Locally, representatives from Hays County Child Welfare Board, Hays County District Attorney’s Office, Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center and Roxanne’s House, Greater San Marcos Youth Council, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), San Marcos, Buda and Kyle Police Departments, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, and CTMC have joined forces to provide preventive and supportive services to child victims and their families.

In 2017 more than 63,657 cases of child abuse and neglect were confirmed in Texas resulting in the placement of 50,293 children in foster care and the death of 172 children. In Hays County 421 children received services from Roxanne’s House, the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center’s non-residential center where staff helps children heal from abuse.

Throughout the year, with 75 Hays volunteers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) helped 188 Hays children by advocating as Guardian Ad Litem in courts, schools and the child welfare system.  

The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center provided direct services to 651 adult victims of sexual assault in Hays and Caldwell Counties last year, 547 of those victims were from Hays County alone.

There are several upcoming opportunities to show support, both emotional and financial, for the organizations that serve victims of sexual assault and child abuse.

Residents are invited to attend YouthFest! from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 7 – a free, family-fun event celebrating childhood. For the first time, Greater San Marcos Youth Council, the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center, Community Actions, Inc., and the Department of Family and Protective Services are partnering with KLRU-TV for this event.

In addition to information about community resources and children’s activities and crafts, there will be a special appearance by Daniel Tiger from PBS Kids.

HCWC will hold a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. April 11 on the County Courthouse grounds, 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos, to support persons affected by sexual assault. More information at www.hcwc.org.

The GSMYC annual fundraiser, A Night of Hope, is Thursday, April 26 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Three Dudes Winery. More information at www.gsmyc.org.

CASA will hold a BBQ fundraiser at the Hays County Government Center Thursday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Plates from 4 Mooses BBQ are $10, available to go or eat-in. All proceeds will go to CASA’s capital project to build a Training and Support Center in San Marcos. On April 20 join CASA y Los Compadres at the Chandelier of Gruene, honoring the San Marcos Lions Club.

Tickets are $125/couple and &75 per person. Sponsored tables are also available for $750 to $5,000. More information at www.casacentex.org.

Photo Attached: Left to right, Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark Jones, Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe, CASA Case Manager Rob Edwards and Program Director Kimberly Key, GSMYC Executive Director Julia Ramsay New and Operations Manager Pamela Woods, CASA Development Director Tricia Schneider, HCWC Forensic Interviewer Maggie Breed, Executive Director Marla Johnson and Board member Dan O’Brien, Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler and Captain Mark Cumberland, Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ray Whisenant at the March 27 Commissioners Court, which proclaimed April both Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.