Possible Budget Cuts Jeopardize Child Abuse Prevention Programs
By: Ashley Hinson
Updated: December 3, 2012
Carmen Aguirre is an executive director at Children's Advocacy Center in Lubbock.
She said children would be in extreme danger if lawmakers decide to cut state funding for child abuse prevention programs in Texas.
"If we have to quit getting that message out to the community then children who are being abused and don't tell may never get the help that they need," Aguirre said. "These children are our future and it's important to protect them."
Lubbock already has the highest number of child abuse victims per capita in Texas.
"That's just unbelievable to a lot of people, but we are," Aguirre said. She thinks eliminating prevention programs would only make it worse.
The University of Houston proved in a study that Prevention programs are successful. In 2004, Texas cut all child abuse program funding and cases jumped up 23% when nationally they declined.
"We have some cases that come through here sometimes that the child is now being helped because they did actually learn from that program and tell someone that something was happening to them," Aguirre said.
The funding was restored in 2008, but it's now back on the chopping block.
The importance of prevention programs have been made obvious recently.
You can remember two different teen fathers were arrested for abusing their own children in the past few weeks.
Rep. Charles Perry understands people's concern about child abuse, especially in Lubbock, but he says it's too early to worry.
"We haven't even started to start wondering where the cuts are going to be made," said Rep. Perry.
