National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Insights from Sheriff Hernandez

Q: How does your agency collaborate with the Center for Child Protection?
A: We have six deputies assigned specifically to the Child Protection Team, along with two detectives and dedicated victim services personnel who collaborate closely with the Center.

Q: How would you describe your agency’s role in protecting children across Travis County?
A: Protecting children is our critical responsibility, and we take it incredibly seriously. Our deputies actively meet with children and families, and our detectives thoroughly investigate each reported case. Additionally, we have a community outreach team dedicated to education and prevention—visiting schools and community groups to help stop child abuse before it happens.

Q: This isn’t easy work—what motivates you and your team to continue?
A: I began my own journey in child abuse investigations back in April 1992, shortly after the Center first opened its doors. Witnessing the devastating cycle of abuse has only deepened my commitment—and the commitment of our entire team—to protect children. Our passion and dedication have grown stronger over the years. Protecting Travis County’s children is a burden we proudly carry every day.

Q: How does your team collaborate with the Center for Child Protection?
A: We have an extraordinary partnership here. Multiple agencies—including ours, the Center, and Dell Children’s Hospital—come together seamlessly for a common goal. It’s a highly effective collaboration, and we’re incredibly proud to be a part of it.

Q: What do you wish more people understood about child abuse?
A: It’s crucial for everyone to understand that, in most cases, the people harming children aren’t strangers. Often, they’re individuals known to the child. Another critical point is that children should never feel responsible for protecting their abuser. It’s the adults’ responsibility to protect children, never the other way around.

Get to Know Sheriff Hernandez

With over 40 years in law enforcement—more than 30 in Travis County—Sheriff Sally Hernandez has dedicated her career to protecting the community. She began as a night dispatcher in Llano, Texas, before moving to Austin, where she served as a Deputy, Investigator, and Chief of Investigations for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.

Elected Sheriff in 2016, Sheriff Hernandez is one of only seven female sheriffs in Texas history, leading with a focus on justice and victim advocacy. She has built strong investigative teams and champions efforts to keep Travis County safe.

Her leadership has earned her multiple awards for advocacy and public service. Sheriff Hernandez and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office remain committed to protecting Austin’s children and ensuring justice for those who need it most.

Insights from Shelby Duarte

Q: How do you collaborate with the Child Protection Team?
A: In my role, I collaborate closely with all of our agency partners. I regularly connect with caseworkers and detectives while staffing individual cases.  Additionally, I work alongside district attorneys during case reviews or training sessions, as well as medical professionals who are essential to our team’s investigative process.

Q: This work is challenging. What keeps you motivated?
A: This is indeed tough work. People often say, “You must have a really hard job,” and that’s absolutely true—but it’s also a thousand times more rewarding. Knowing that children feel heard and supported is incredibly fulfilling and keeps me committed to this role every day.

Q: What do you wish more people understood about child abuse investigations?
A: I wish people understood how critical their reactions are when a child discloses abuse. Immediate responses like, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” can unintentionally make a child feel as though they’re at fault. It’s essential to remain calm, supportive, and patient—really hearing their words without judgment—because every child deserves to feel safe.

Q: What impact do you hope the Child Protection Team continues to have in the future?
A: We already have strong working relationships with our partners, and I hope we continue to build and strengthen these collaborations. Strong partnerships ensure we’re all effectively working together to support families.

Get to Know Shelby Duarte

Shelby Duarte is the Director of Forensic Services at the Center for Child Protection and has been with the organization since 2015. She oversees the forensic interview department while also conducting interviews to help ensure children have a safe space to share their experiences.

Shelby holds a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science from St. Edward’s University in Austin. Beyond her work at the Center, she is dedicated to training future professionals as a faculty member for the Forensic Interview Training Program at Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas.

Insights from Cyndi Cantu

Q: What’s something people might not realize about the work done at the Center?
A: Every single day, multiple agencies come together to investigate cases of child abuse so that every child has access to justice.

Q: What does “Protect Austin Kids” mean to you?
A: To me, it means that every child is safe and lives a life filled with joy, beauty, and love.

Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: I love that I get to make a difference—not just in the lives of the children and families we serve, but also in the lives of our agency partners by supporting them in the important work they do every day.

Q: What do you want the Austin community to know about keeping kids safe?
A: In order to keep the children in our community safe, it’s important that each one of us takes responsibility for reporting child abuse when we see it.

Q: How can someone report suspected abuse?
A: You can call 1-800-252-5400 to make a report of child abuse.

Get to Know Cyndi Cantu

Cyndi Cantu has been with the Center for Child Protection since 1995 and currently serves as the Chief Team Relations and Forensic Officer. She ensures that the multidisciplinary team follows investigative protocols for child abuse cases and oversees the forensic interview and coordination programs.

Cyndi holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and previously worked as a Child Protection Investigator. A nationally recognized expert in forensic interviewing, she has contributed to the development of statewide training models and has presented on child abuse investigations across the country.

Her dedication to protecting children and improving investigative practices has made her a leader in the field.

Insights from José Garza

Q: How does the Travis County District Attorney work with the Center for Child Protection?
A: The Travis County District Attorney’s Office prioritizes child welfare by dedicating 20 specialized attorneys to combat child exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Each week, our attorneys join multidisciplinary team meetings with partners from law enforcement and the Center for Child Protection. These meetings ensure our joint protocols are consistently reviewed and our efforts remain unified. We’re incredibly grateful to the Center for Child Protection for their crucial role in helping children participate comfortably and safely in the criminal justice system.

Q: How does your agency protect vulnerable children?
A: In every case, especially those involving children, our office prioritizes the victims’ experiences and needs. We strive to understand and support each child’s unique circumstances and to determine what justice means to them. Our attorneys collaborate closely with law enforcement and community partners to vigorously pursue justice, ensuring child victims and their families are supported throughout the process.

Q: What message do you have for people who may be afraid to report child abuse?
A: I understand how difficult and scary it can be to report child abuse and navigate the criminal justice system. I want families across Travis County to know we approach every case with compassion, trauma-informed practices, and respect for the dignity of survivors. Our team is thoroughly trained to protect victims’ anonymity and to minimize trauma throughout the legal process. New policies and specialized training ensure that each child and family’s needs are at the center of everything we do.

Q: What motivates you to continue this important work?
A: Our team encounters children and families during extremely challenging times. What motivates us is knowing our work not only supports these families through immediate difficulties but also has the power to positively impact a child’s life for years to come. It truly takes an entire community of dedicated professionals to protect children, seek justice, and facilitate healing. The District Attorney’s Office is proud and honored to be part of this dedicated team committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and families.

Get to Know José Garza

José Garza was re-elected as Travis County District Attorney in November 2024 and began his second term in January. As District Attorney, he has prioritized centering the needs of survivors and victims in the legal process, reducing gun violence, and rebuilding community trust in the justice system.

Through his leadership, Garza remains committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and victim-centered approach to prosecution in Travis County.

Insights from Erika Senger

Q: How does your team collaborate with the Center for Child Protection?
A: We partner with the Center whenever a child makes an outcry of abuse or neglect. We reach out to schedule a forensic interview, and once that’s completed, the Center continues supporting both me and the family. They help connect the family to services like individual or family therapy, or medical support—whatever is needed to help stabilize and support the family dynamic.

Q: What do you wish more people understood about child abuse investigations?
A: I wish more people realized how difficult it is to deal with child abuse and neglect. When a case is first assigned, it can feel really overwhelming. But knowing you can step in and serve as an outside source of help—someone who can guide a family toward solutions and connect them to real support—makes the work meaningful.

Q: What keeps you motivated to do this important work?
A: Just knowing I’m making a positive impact in the community. I feel like I have a purpose in this role, and that the work I do is truly beneficial. It’s rewarding to be in a position where I can support families in crisis and help bring about positive change.

Q: What should someone do if they suspect a child is being abused?
A: I would recommend calling the Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-252-5400. You can also submit a report online through the DFPS website. If you believe a child is in danger, it’s so important to report it urgently and take action.

Get to Know Erika Senger

Erika Senger is a Child Protective Investigator with the Department of Family and Protective Services, dedicated to keeping children safe. For the past two years, she has worked in Alternative Response, supporting families and ensuring the well-being of children in the community.

She believes in resilience, embracing Vince Lombardi’s words: “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”

Erika is honored to take part in Child Abuse Prevention Month, reminding everyone that protecting children is a shared responsibility.

Insights from Joshua Garrison

Q: How does your team work with the Center for Child Protection?
A: Our team collaborates closely with the Center for Child Protection almost daily, primarily by scheduling forensic interviews for child victims and coordinating investigations.

Q: What does your team do to protect children in the community?
A: Our team actively protects children from the very moment we receive a report—whether it’s an outcry of physical abuse, or another form of child abuse. We manage each case comprehensively, from initial investigation through to its conclusion with the prosecutor’s office.

Q: That doesn’t sound like easy work—what motivates you to continue?
A: While each case is uniquely challenging, the motivation comes from seeing positive outcomes and knowing we’ve achieved justice for child victims. The rewards of helping children find safety and justice make the difficult aspects of our work worthwhile.

Get to Know Detective Garrison

With more than 16 years in law enforcement, Det.Joshua Garrison is dedicated to protecting Austin’s most vulnerable. He began his career as a Police Dispatcher before becoming a sworn Officer in 2012. After serving in Alamo Heights, Det. Garrison relocated to Austin in 2016, where he now serves as a Child Abuse Detective with the Criminal Investigations Division of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

Det. Garrison investigates crimes against children, the elderly, and disabled individuals, bringing experience from the Family Violence, Property Crimes, and School Resource Officer Units.

Det. Garrison is committed to seeking justice for children and ensuring their voices are heard.