Randall County proclaims April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month; The Bridge reports 965 children served last year

The Randall County Commissioners Court on April 8 adopted a proclamation declaring April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and recognized local nonprofit partners that provide forensic interviews, medical exams and trauma services for child victims.

Shelly Bohannon, identified at the meeting as director of The Bridge (a local child advocacy center), told the court that last year the center conducted about 965 child interviews and approximately 290 forensic medical exams. Bohannon said The Bridge handles roughly the “top 10%” of reports that come through local channels and that the Texas Department of Public Safety and other agencies manage the remainder; she told the court DPS receives roughly 9,600 reports a month, as discussed in court testimony.

Bohannon said The Bridge recently expanded an in-house mental-health component so it can continue to serve children and families beyond the investigative process and when prosecutions do not continue. She described the center’s role in coordinating law enforcement and prosecutorial needs and the symbolic pinwheel display outside the building, noting each pinwheel represents a child served in the last fiscal year.

The court adopted the proclamation by unanimous vote and recorded that it would be placed in the official record and that the nonprofit would receive a copy.

During public comment after the proclamation, Ray Guy representing Bikers Against Child Abuse described the motorcycle group’s role in supporting children through the court process. Guy said members undergo background checks and registry checks before accompanying or supporting children in court and that the organization “walks with abused children through the court system.”

The proclamation was placed in the county record and a signed copy was provided to The Bridge’s representatives after the meeting. The action carried on a 5-0 vote.