SAN ANGELO, Texas — To mark the beginning of National Child Abuse Prevention Month the Children’s Advocacy Center of Greater West Texas, Inc. (CAC) hosted a pinwheel ceremony Monday.
The ceremony at the CAC 3418 Town and Country Drive, was attended by CAC staff, TLCA and Grape Creek ISD students, as well as community members and CAC partner agencies.
Throughout April, the CAC and others across the nation, will be raising awareness for child abuse prevention. Child abuse and neglect is a problem of epidemic proportion, but is preventable.
Because child abuse prevention is a community responsibility, the CAC has activities in April to engage the community to stand up to child abuse.
Here are the events planned for April:
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Training
- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 3 at the Children’s Advocacy Center
- Child abuse prevention is everyone’s responsibility. CAC wants to ensure you are equipped with the necessary tools to help a child in need. In the free training, you will learn how to recognize child abuse and learn the process of reporting it.
- To register, contact Michael Cuellar at mcuellar@cacgreaterwtx.org.
Child Sex Trafficking: Awareness and Prevention Training
- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 18 at the Children’s Advocacy Center
- In the free training, you will learn current concerns presented in the State of Texas because of human trafficking/child sex trafficking numbers and how educators and child-welfare agencies can know what to look for, what to expect and what to report in the instance of discovering trafficking in a child’s life.
- To register, contact Michael Cuellar at mcuellar@cacgreaterwtx.org.
"Blue Fridays"
- Blue is the national color for child abuse awareness - show your support by wearing blue. Post a photo on social media using the hashtag #CACBLUEFRIDAYS to be entered to win a prize each Friday in April.
Blue Sunday
- Sunday, April 28, is a day of prayer for local and area congregations to spread awareness for the prevention of child abuse in our communities.
- Awareness and education are paramount to preventing child abuse. If you suspect abuse, call the Child Abuse Hotline 800-252-5400 or call 911 if you believe the child is in immediate danger.
For more information about the CAC, Child Abuse Prevention Month or how to get involved, visit cacgreaterwtx.org/, call 325-653-HOPE (4673) or email info@cacgreaterwtx.org.