April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and on Thursday, April 1st CASA of the Coastal Bend will present a virtual community awareness event, Ringing of the Bells, via Zoom from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
The event, hosted by KRIS 6 News Anchor and CASA of the Coastal Bend Board Member Paulo Salazar, will begin with a proclamation read by Mayor Paulette Guajardo. A Bell Ringing Ceremony will follow for children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Throughout 2020 there were 890 children in foster care from Aransas and Nueces counties.
Community partners, including local child welfare agencies, will share services they provide for children and families as well as opportunities for the public to get involved to support their programs. Participating partners include Herrman & Herrman, PLLC., Kendra Scott, Wells Fargo-Robstown Branch, Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Foster Angels of South Texas, MCH Family Outreach, Agape Ranch, BCFS Health & Human Services- Corpus Christi and the Nueces Child Welfare Foundation.
The first 200 people to register for the event will receive an event bag that will be available for pick up prior to the event. Included in the event bags is information from the participating partners as well as giveaway items and a raffle ticket for door prizes awarded throughout the event including three pieces of jewelry donated by Kendra Scott. Event bag pick up information will be provided once registered for the event.
Throughout April, in front of the CASA building will stand 890 pinwheels donated and installed by MCH Family Outreach. Each pinwheel represents a child from the Coastal Bend who was in foster care during 2020. The public is encouraged to stop by and take pictures to post on social media with the hashtag
#AprilChildAbusePreventionMonth.