They’re colorful. They’re creative. Each one is unique. And some are even downright adorable. They’re Cardboard Kids and they have a special mission to accomplish: to bring awareness to child abuse in Bexar County.
On Thursday, April 9, thanks to child advocacy group ChildSafe and sponsor Valero Energy Foundation, more than 20,000 Cardboard Kids will appear all over San Antonio to kick off Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Child Abuse in our community is a HUGE problem.
Here are the statistics from reports of 2013 cases:
- Bexar County had 5,846 confirmed cases of child abuse, the second highest in Texas after Harris County
- There were 10 child fatalities resulting from child abuse and neglect in Bexar County
- 1 out of 10 abused children make an outcry, which means there are many more children being abused than reported
Child abuse happens everywhere. Yes, everywhere. Every zip code in San Antonio has a confirmed case of child abuse. Shameful, isn’t it? But there are things we can do to reduce the number of children affected by abuse.
- We can talk about child abuse to bring this taboo topic out into the open.
- We can recognize the signs of child abuse so when we see them, we can offer help and hope to a child. Here’s what to say and do if you suspect child abuse.
- We can talk to our kids to remind them that no one has the right to hurt them. Here’s how to protect your children from child abuse.
The more we talk about child abuse and recognize that it’s happening in our community, the more children we can help. For more information about preventing child abuse, visit Childsafe.
ChildSafe is the only child advocacy center in Bexar County. Their mission is to restore hope and healing through expert treatment to children and their families who have been traumatized by abuse.”
When you see a Cardboard kid around San Antonio tomorrow (and beyond), be sure to help spread the word by:
- Taking a photo of the Cardboard Kid.
- Tagging your photo using the hashtag #CardboardKidsSA.
- Sharing the photo on your social media sites (and changing your profile pic to the pic of that Cardboard Kid!).
- Following ChildSafe on Twitter and Facebook for updates and more information.
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