The Center for Child Protection prevents child abuse by quickly responding to children who have made outcries of abuse or who have witnessed a violent crime. Each child is brought to the Center to tell what happened so a team of professionals from the Child Protection Team can begin their investigation, create a safety plan for the child and nonoffending family members, and assess individual needs for the long-term so children and families have the resources they need for healing and safety. This comprehensive network of support breaks the cycle of abuse for children ensuring they are not re-victimized by offenders and the system designed to protect them. Read more under Forensic Services.
The Center also offers a variety of parenting classes and groups to help parents address issues related to trauma, family dynamics, communication skills, appropriate discipline, and conflict resolution. These therapeutic groups give parents the knowledge and coping skills they need to nurture and protect their children. Read more under Therapeutic Services.
The Center also raises awareness of the problem of child abuse in the community to encourage the public to report child abuse if they witness or suspect a child may be in an unsafe circumstance. The Center also encourages the public to get involved to help abused children by volunteering and by making contributions to assist in the care of abused and neglected children.
Public Outreach
The Center regularly conducts tours of the Center's facilities and speaks to groups of all sizes and to the media about the issue of child abuse and how the public can get involved to help. The Center has also created a speaker's bureau as a resource for businesses and organizations.
In addition, the Center regularly raises awareness of April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. Blue Ribbons, long the symbol of the prevention movement, are given out at a variety of events within April. In recent years, the Center has collaborated with numerous other groups supporting children at the Light of Hope Celebration. Also observed in April, the Center participates in raising awareness of Crime Victims' Rights Week.
Child Fatality Review Team
The Center for Child Protection announces the results of the Annual Child Fatality Review Team findings each spring. This unique collaboration is charged with identifying patterns in child deaths in Travis County in order to prevent future deaths.
The Baby Moses Project
The Baby Moses Project (formerly called the Bassinet Project) continues to raise awareness of the state's Baby Moses legislation, which provides a legal alternative for mothers who may feel they cannot care for their baby. The ultimate goal of the project is to prevent future abandonment of newborns. Safe Baby Signs can be found across the county at Fire and EMS Stations and hospitals.
