Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor Pro Tem proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month; Children's Advocacy Center outlines county services
Summary
Mayor Pro Tem Susan Kaufman proclaimed April 2025 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Bridgeport-based Children's Advocacy Center described five years of service, its role as the county's multi-agency child-interview and family-resource hub and the ongoing need for public and funding support.
Mayor Pro Tem Susan Kaufman read a proclamation declaring April 2025 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and invited Kristen Howell, director of the local Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), to describe the center's work in Wise County.
Howell told the council the CAC has operated in the county for five years and serves as the single location where law enforcement, Department of Family and Protective Services investigators, prosecutors and families meet after an allegation of abuse. She said the center provides coordinated interviews and connects families to recovery services, and that its work depends on federal, state and local funding plus community support. Chief Stanford and other law-enforcement representatives praised the partnership and noted the center reduced travel burdens for investigations.
The proclamation text highlights the county's partner organizations by name, including Wise Choices Pregnancy Resource Center; Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Wise County; Wise Kid Care; Wise County Christian Counseling; Wise Hope Domestic Violence Task Force; and the Children's Advocacy Center for North Texas. The mayor pro tem urged citizens, businesses and community organizations to support the centers and services that prevent and respond to child abuse.
Howell said the center receives new child referrals regularly and described the CAC as a 'one-stop shop' for families following an allegation of abuse. She noted the CAC's services are provided in partnership with law enforcement, the district attorney's office and DFPS. Howell emphasized the center relies on mixed public and private funding to operate and that continued local support will be needed.
The council acknowledged the proclamation and thanked the CAC and law enforcement for their partnership. No formal vote was required for the proclamation; Council encouraged ongoing support and noted the center's local office is adjacent to a Subway restaurant in Bridgeport.
