April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is an opportunity to recognize the importance of communities working together to strengthen families. Throughout the month, DePelchin will highlight our services and programs that work to keep children safe. We will also discuss ways that individuals can also be Champions for Children by helping to prevent abuse and neglect. In addition, we will display blue ribbons on our Houston campus to honor the children who were victims of abuse and neglect in Harris County last year.
In 2023, there were 58,120 child victims of abuse and neglect in Texas. At DePelchin, we work to provide safe and loving homes for these children and to also help children and families before abuse and neglect happen.
Our services to keep children safe and healthy include:
- Parenting classes. These programs help equip parents with the strategies and approaches they need to maintain loving, caring homes for their children — including programs that are specifically focused on fathers and their unique roles in their children’s lives.
- Counseling services to support children and parents. Our clinicians help DePelchin clients facing any number of mental health issues. Our counseling services are free for children and adults, and we offer them in a variety of settings to meet our clients’ needs.
- The DePelchin Family Resource Centers in Houston and San Antonio. This is a one-stop shop for families seeking a variety of services. Families who visit the centers can, for example, sign up for parenting or counseling services or learn about other available forms of support from DePelchin and other organizations.
Of course, when a child needs a family to provide temporary care before they can be reunited with their parents, DePelchin also finds foster families for those children and works closely with the families to ensure they are able to meet that child’s needs. We also help children and families throughout the process of adoption when it is not possible to reunify with the birth parents.
We all have a role to play in helping to prevent abuse and neglect, from offering support and encouragement to families who may be struggling, to learning more about how to detect and report suspected abuse, to hosting a fundraising campaign to support DePelchin programs. This is also a time to show appreciation for those who are engaged in preventing abuse and neglect — whether they are staff, volunteers, or supporters.
Please see and share the content on our social media channels (such as Facebook and Instagram) throughout the month to learn more about ways that all of us can prevent the abuse and neglect of children. DePelchin is honored to be engaged in this critical work and we thank all who make it possible.
