Director of child advocacy center urges Wilson County to consider funding

Casey Brown, director of a child advocacy center serving the 80th/First District, told the Wilson County Commissioners Court that the center provides forensic interviews, trauma-based therapy and sexual-assault nurse examinations to children who are victims of crime and that those services are provided at no cost to families.

"We do that all for free for every one of the kiddos that comes through the door. They'll never see a bill for anything that they might need from us," Brown said, urging commissioners to consider the center's recent written request to be included in the county budget.

The center, Brown said, covers a range of cases with forensic interviews as the core service and coordinates a multidisciplinary team including law enforcement, the district attorney and child protective services. She said the program partners with Children's Hospital of San Antonio for medical forensic exams and that family advocates and trauma-based therapists attend to children's mental-health needs.

Brown delivered the request during the public-comment portion of the court's budget presentations. Commissioners did not take a vote on the request during the session; several asked for the submitted letter and supporting materials to be included in departmental budget worksheets so the court can consider the request alongside other priorities.

The next procedural step is for the court to review submitted budget documentation and to schedule departmental follow-ups during the budget process.