Event to raise awareness of child abuse in Milam County
April is child abuse prevention month.
On Thursday, April 13, at 10 am, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas, Milam County CPS Board and inaugural members of the CASA of Milam County will host a county wide awareness event at the Milam County Courthouse, located at 102 S Fannin Avenue in Cameron.
This event will kick off Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month with an official Proclamation of Support given by Milam County Judge, Bill Whitmire.
Following the presentation, the community will be invited to “plant” nearly 200 blue pinwheels on the Courthouse lawn.
“We invite the public to join us and show support for child abuse victims and their families by planting a pinwheel for each child served by the CACCT and Milam County CPS Board,” Rachel Owens, CPS Board representative said. “The pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention. Pinwheels symbolize joy, playfulness, and childhood. The pinwheel has come to serve as a physical reminder of the great childhoods we want for all children. As a campaign symbol, the pinwheel conveys the message that every child deserves to be raised in a healthy, safe, and nurturing environment.”
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas, located in Belton, provides comprehensive services in Milam County which promote hope, healing, and justice to child abuse survivors and their families.
The center provides a safe and comfortable environment where alleged child victims and their families come for collaborative investigative services. Law enforcement and Child Protective Services (CPS) refer all cases to the CACCT that meet the following criteria: sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, high risk for abuse, witness to violent crime, and domestic minor sex trafficking. Trained forensic interviewers work with law enforcement, CPS, and prosecution personnel to provide quality forensic interviews to assist in the investigative process.
At least monthly, county team meets with a multidisciplinary team (MDT) that includes law enforcement, CPS, medical and mental health professionals, and prosecutors to continue coordinating the cases to achieve a positive outcome for both the children and the agencies investigating the abuse. In addition, we provide family advocacy, counseling, and coordinate pediatric sexual assault and forensic exams with McLane’s Children’s Hospital.
In 2022, the CACCT provided services to 816 children in total, 42 residing in Milam County.
The Milam County CPS Board works to bring communities and families together by providing both resources and education.
The organization is committed to helping families and children receiving Child Protective Services (CPS). Each year, the Board ensures that every kid in care in Milam County receives Christmas gifts donated by community members of Milam County.
Additionally, the organizations helps provide clothing, school supplies, financial assistance for school related activities, and other special needs children in foster care may need. The Board provides continued support and resources for families going through the adoption process, and is celebrated when completed.
The organization also supplies and operates the Rainbow Room in Milam County, providing emergency supplies and services to families needing this service. The Milam County CPS Board has assisted over 145 Milam County children this past year.
CASA of Milam County and the child welfare system are working towards building a more family-focused network to better serve the best interest of children. The overarching goal with family engagement is to help achieve strong connectivity and permanency, preferably reunification or adoption by relatives when safe and possible. If reunification is not safe or possible, CASA volunteers will advocate for the child to be adopted by, or live with, other relatives or family friends. If that is also not possible, CASA volunteers will work towards adoption by a non-relative.
For more information or to volunteer you can contact Rachel Owens for CASA of Milam County and Milam County CPS Board at captainneo1@yahoo.com or casaofmilamcounty@gmail.com.