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Henderson County proclaims April 2026 Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month; officials praise local task force
Summary
Henderson County Commissioners on April 7 unanimously proclaimed April 2026 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, highlighting the county's multi‑agency Crimes Against Children task force and new youth diversion efforts and citing local service numbers presented at the meeting.
Henderson County's Commissioner's Court on April 7 unanimously proclaimed April 2026 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, recognizing local agencies and the county's Crimes Against Children task force for coordinated services and prosecutions.
County Judge Wade McKini introduced the proclamation and invited representatives from the Help Center, Breaking Change, CASA, Family Peace Project, Maggie's House Child Advocacy Center and state Department of Family Protective Services to the meeting. District Attorney Jenny Palmer thanked the court and credited the task force with moving prosecutorial efforts forward: "Without the support of our commissioner's court and you I don't think that we would ever have gotten off the ground with our task force...You made a difference in a lot of children's lives and a lot of really bad men in prison because of the task force," she said.
Court materials cited state and local caseload figures for fiscal year 2025 that were read into the record by county staff: 136,650 completed child‑abuse and neglect investigations statewide; Henderson County reported 610 completed investigations. The court also noted 402 children served by court‑appointed special advocates (CASA) and 410 children who received services at Maggie's House Child Advocacy Center, as presented during the hearing.
Speakers emphasized that the county's work is highly collaborative. County officials said other counties have visited to observe Henderson County's task‑force model and that the county presented its approach at a Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas leadership conference. County leaders also described a new youth sequential‑intercept mapping initiative to coordinate mental‑health diversion and follow‑up services for young survivors, stressing cross‑agency referrals and counseling as priorities.
During remarks Sheriff Hill House highlighted the long‑term needs of survivors, saying many will face ongoing mental‑health challenges and that coordinated services are essential to keep youths out of the criminal‑justice system when treatment options exist.
The court's proclamation notes the community and interagency partnerships that support prevention and response, and the motion to adopt the proclamation passed unanimously. Court officials invited partners forward for a group photo and signings following the vote.
