Bluebonnet raising awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month

BASTROP – Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative has joined several organizations in April to help raise awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, agencies that serve 11 counties in the Bluebonnet region, the Children’s Advocacy Center that serves Bastrop, Lee and Fayette counties, and the SAFE Alliance are among the local organizations that support families affected by abuse and neglect.

“No child should ever live in fear of or endure abuse,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manager. “Bluebonnet is committed to bringing this tragic topic to the forefront and raising awareness so that we can all do our part to recognize the signs and help children in abusive situations.”

Bluebonnet’s member service centers in Bastrop, Brenham, Giddings, Lockhart and Manor will be illuminated with blue light at night, blue ribbon decals will be affixed to Bluebonnet’s crew vehicles, and key community events and resources are being shared on our social media channels throughout April.

The local area organizations welcome volunteers and donations. At CASA, volunteers are adults who have been pre-screened and received training to work with children in the foster care system. Volunteers undergo a pre-screening interview, background check, 30-hours of classroom training and observation hours in a courtroom. Volunteers are then appointed by judges to represent and advocate for a child’s best interests in the child protection system. Volunteers are assigned to work with one child or a set of siblings The Children’s Advocacy Center that serves Bastrop, Lee and Fayette counties and SAFE Alliance would benefit from donations. View their wish lists at childrensadvocacycenter. org/get-involved and safeaustin. org/get-involved.

If you suspect child abuse, neglect or exploitation, report it by one of two ways: online at txabusehotl ine.org or by calling the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 (available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year). For more information, go to childwelfare. gov/ topics/ preventing/ preventionmonth/.