Commissioners name April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

In the agenda, DeWitt County Commissioners approved a proclamation for the DeWitt County Child Welfare Board establishing April 2024 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month at the March 25 meeting.

Reports were given showing that there were 270,000 victims of abuse or neglect in Texas. Of that number, 218 reports of child abuse were in DeWitt County with 23 children being removed from their parents or guardians.

Members of SJRC Texas-Belong were at the meeting to receive the proclamation. Belong is an organization in Texas that cares for children and families who have been affected by trauma, abuse, or neglect. Their mission is to offer help and hope to assist in the victim’s journey to healing.

“This proclamation is very important,” SJRC Texas-Belong Representative Nicole Nguyen said. “I think in light of recent news, abuse has continued to happen all over the state of Texas and it’s still happening here in rural communities. This is a start to raise awareness to these types of abuse and we want to continue to add to that awareness to schools and families who are doing the work to stop abuse.”

Other items on the agenda included:

• A Project Agreement Form between the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and DeWitt County was approved for prison labor at the DeWitt County Historical Museum.

• DeWitt Commissioners approved a contract with A-1 Shiner Fire and Safety Incorporated for inspections on fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and fire sprinkler systems.

• A proposal for new postage machines from Pitney Bowes was approved for the courthouse and the annex.

• A Certificate of Completion from the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas was given to Commissioner James Kaiser for successfully completing the continuing education provisions from the Texas Local Government Code.