Fort Bend County Display Reveals Harsh Reality of Local Child Abuse Through Visual Representation
As April begins, Fort Bend County, along with the entire nation, acknowledges Child Abuse Prevention Month to shed light on the alarming prevalence of child abuse in society. In a poignant Awareness Field Installation event, Fort Bend County, in association with county Judge KP George, the Exchange Club of Fort Bend, and Child Advocates, initiated a stirring visual representation of child abuse prevalence in the county.
The historic grounds of the Fort Bend County Courthouse bore witness to the solemn installation of 2,192 stakes, each representing a reported case of child abuse within the county. Through this striking display, the organizers aimed to not only create awareness about the prevalence of child abuse but also incite active measures to prevent further instances and provide necessitated support to affected children and families.
The event attracted key members from the community including Fort Bend County Judge KP George, The Exchange Club President Dr. Malik Kutty, Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton, Fort Bend County Attorney Bridgette Smith Lawson, and Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Mefford.
From left to right: The Exchange Club President Dr. Malik Kutty, Fort Bend County Judge KP George, Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Mefford, Fort Bend County Attorney Bridgette Smith Lawson, and Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton. (Source: Fort Bend County)"Child abuse is an intolerable scourge that demands our unwavering attention and action," remarked Fort Bend County Judge KP George. "By coming together as a community, we can create a safer, more nurturing environment for our children, ensuring they grow up free from harm."
Often overlooked or silenced, child abuse impacts numerous children as the "silent epidemic". As defined by Texas Family Code, it includes physical, emotional, sexual, or neglectful injury to a child caused by acts or omissions of a person.
Notably, Child Advocates of Fort Bend, a frontline nonprofit agency dealing with child abuse victims, revealed that there were 56,944 confirmed victims of child abuse in the state of Texas in 2022, with Fort Bend County accounting for 4,178 of these cases. Since its inception in 1991, Child Advocates of Fort Bend, through its affiliated programs - Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), has served over 19,000 children aged birth through 18+ years. Its mission remains resolute – to lend a voice, heal the hurt, and break the relentless cycle of child abuse and neglect for children in Fort Bend County.
By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region. |
