Last month was Child Abuse Prevention Month. See below a letter from Sonia Serna Gonzalez, RN, the Wesley Community Nurse, and the wonderful initiative that she led at Asbury Church:
Spring is such a beautiful season when we see God’s wonderful creation and our natural world come to life displaying its multiple vibrant colors all around us. Also, in the Springtime we shine a light on the problem of child abuse and neglect. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. During this time communities around the nation collaborate to bring awareness, support, educate, and strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect.
According to ChildSafe website, San Antonio continues to have the highest rate of confirmed child abuse cases amongst all major metropolitan Texas cities. There were 5,373 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect reported in the San Antonio area last year.
ChildSafe is a children’s advocacy center, the only nonprofit in Bexar County that coordinates the efforts of child protection staff, law enforcement professionals, family advocates, medical experts, and mental health clinicians for children and adolescents traumatized by sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Their mission is to restore dignity, hope, and trust to children traumatized by abuse and neglect.
In 2014, ChildSafe created Cardboard Kids Awareness Campaign to draw attention to the pervasiveness of child abuse in our community during the month of April.
This month Asbury church is participating in the Cardboard kids awareness campaign not only by decorating Cardboard kids and placing them all over the church, but also by offering a free training in English and Spanish for all community members. This training will be provided by ChildSafe trauma prevention specialists and will aim at providing adult caregivers ways to keep children safe online.
I invite you to join ChildSafe’s yearly Cardboard Kids Campaign to bring attention to child abuse in our communities. I encourage you to visit their website www.childsafe-sa.org to learn more about their mission, services, and ways to get involved.
Let us continue to pray for God’s protection upon all the children. If you suspect child abuse, call the Texas Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-5400.
In Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
May the peace and love of Jesus Christ continue to reign in your hearts.
Anchored in Christ,
Sonia Serna Gonzalez, RN
Wesley Community Nurse
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas
