City of El Paso recognizes April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The City of El Paso approved a resolution Tuesday recognizing April as "Child Abuse Prevention Month."

As part of the resolution, April 5 will be designated as "Go Blue Day," which according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' website, is a day where people are encouraged to wear blue and use the social media hashtag "#GoBlueDay" to show their support.

Also on April 5, Family and Protective Services will hold an event where they will have refreshments, activities, a balloon release as well as guest speakers.

Community Engagement Specialist with Family and Protective Services Victoria Colon who was at the City Council meeting said they want to spread awareness among the community and inform families of the resources they can provide.

"Sometimes it's not about removing kids from the home, but really providing these families the resources to get them the help that they need so we can create strong healthy families in the El Paso community," Colon said.

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As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, on April 3, there will be a fundraiser held at the Peter Piper Pizza in Yarbrough Plaza located in east El Paso.

According to Colon, 15% of all purchases for that day will go to fund the Rainbow Room, an emergency resource room caseworkers use.

The offices of the Family and Protective Services are located at 501 Hawkins Boulevard.

For more information, visit their website.

If you, or someone you know, suspect child abuse or neglect, you can call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 or file a report online thru TxAbuseHotline.org.

According to Family and Protective Services, from September 2022 to August 2023 in the El Paso area:

• CPS completed 4,985 investigations
• There were 1,662 victims of child abuse/neglect
• And 1,869 were helped through prevention programs

If you would like to continue to support Family and Protective Services, they will also have the following events in April:

Foster-Ful Q & A
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 27
At the El Paso Center for Children, 2200 N. Stevens

Description: Learn about the process of becoming licensed to adopt children from Texas foster care who have been victims of abuse/neglect.
Q & A session features experts from DFPS and local child-placing agencies.

Guardians of the Children's Bike Run
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sunday, April 28
The Yard 14261 Montana Ave. (start) & Tequila’s 810 Pendale Rd. (finish)

Description: Ride for cause and support awareness of child abuse/neglect prevention with the Guardians of the Children Sun City Chapter motorcycle club. Food, live music and auctions at the finish stop. All funds raised go to support the Guardian’s mission to provide strength and stability to families in crisis and be an answer to the prayer of an abused child or teen for courage, support, and protection.

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