March 31, 2011

News Release

Tyler Community Makes Child Abuse Prevention a Priority

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

The Smith County Commissioner's Court is proclaiming April 2011 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Smith County. April is child abuse prevention month in Texas and in the nation. 

April 1, 2011 at 12:00 Noon at the St. Louis Early Childhood Center, located at 2800 Walton Road in Tyler, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is sponsoring a program in which Tyler Police Chief, Gary Swindle, will give a community address concerning child abuse awareness.  County Commissioner of Precinct 4, JoAnn Hampton, will read the proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month in Smith County.  Students from the Tyler ISD Head Start program and the Brook Hill School will perform.  McGruff, the crime dog, will also be a special guest.  The invocation will be given by Associate Pastor Tony Wilson of St. Louis Baptist Church in Tyler.  There will be a balloon release at the conclusion of the program in honor of child abuse awareness month and in memory of those victims that have lost their lives due to child abuse. 

Child abuse is a sickness that gnaws at the very fabric of our society and, as with any disease, prevention is more effective than attempting a cure. That’s why the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is teaming up with local governments and community groups across Texas in a call to action against child abuse.

Last year, 227 Texas children died because of abuse or neglect at the hands of their parents or guardians, and 66,897 children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect. On any given day, there were more than 29,072 Texas children and teenagers in foster care.

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