Your local Children’s Advocacy Council has a goal of all children living in a safe and positive environment. They meet monthly to share information and collaborate on activities.
The coalition works to raise awareness of the risks of child abuse, including families living in poverty, parents who feel isolated and parents whose children have special needs.
You don’t have to be a member of the council to help prevent child abuse. You can help by simply making a commitment to speak up as soon as you have a concern. Don’t wait until there is a tragedy to report what you observe.
Watch for inappropriate behaviors in adults who are caring for children, because minors often are powerless to report abuse themselves. If nobody speaks up, the abuse will not stop.
Anyone can phone the Child Abuse Hotline at 800-362-2178 to report what they have observed. The person or persons you report will not be told that you were the one who called.
If you would like to support the efforts of the Dallas County Children’s Advocacy Council, they are having a public event at the Penoach Winery just north of Adel on U.S. Highway 169 on Saturday evening, July 22.
Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.
