Last year’s CACPO event that honored local children who died due to maltreatment. Photo courtesy of Rosanne Lewis.
Dallas CASA and partner agencies with the Dallas County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition will host the Dallas County annual child abuse and neglect prevention awareness event on Thursday, April 4, in conjunction with April’s Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
In Dallas County last year, there were 31,335 reported cases of child abuse, averaging a report every 17 minutes. Statewide, 173 children died due to maltreatment in 2023, equating to about three deaths per week. Additionally, 5,702 children in Dallas County were confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect in 2023, about 15 children per day.
The event will be in the Dallas CASA parking lot at 2757 Swiss Avenue from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will honor the 13 Dallas children who died due to maltreatment in 2023. The children ranged in age from newborn to 16 years old. According to TexProtects, there were seven maltreatment fatalities in 2022 and 11 in 2021.
Keynote speakers include Detective David Clark from the Dallas Police Department’s child exploitation unit, Ryan McLendon, student president of Push UNTil Success Happens and Dallas County Commissioner Theresa Daniel.
Pinwheels, representing abuse and neglect prevention, will be displayed at Dallas CASA and partner agencies including, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Family Compass and Community Partners of Dallas.
In conjunction with the event on April 4, the Dallas skyline will be lit blue on the evening of April 4 in recognition of child abuse awareness and prevention. Confirmed participating buildings include Bank of America, AT&T Discovery Center, Chase Tower and 400 Record. The North Texas Bank & Trust building in Plano.
