By AMANDA KIMBLE
TheFlashToday.com
ERATH COUNTY (April 4, 2017) – One in four girls is sexually abused prior to her 18th birthday. In one year, more than 65,000 cases of child abuse were confirmed across the state. Today, 185 Texas children will be victims of abuse.
Those statistics, from the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, are staggering. The statewide organization, which includes the local nonprofit organization Paluxy River Children’s Advocacy Center (PRCAC), serves children who are suspected victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuses and those who have witnessed a violent crime.
PRCAC is just one of several organizations banding together in Erath County to “Stop the Silence.”
The Stop the Silence rally is aimed at increasing awareness, recognizing the abused and providing support is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Downtown Plaza in Stephenville, according to Laurie Gillespie, victim assistance coordinator for Erath County.
The event is held in conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 2-8, and kicks off the local effort to recognize the importance of Child Abuse Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“April is a busy month,” Gillespie said, adding the county and its various victim service organizations formerly held separate events. “Understanding we each had the same goal, we combined the events and organized Stop the Silence to collectively raise awareness for victims of child abuse, sexual assault and all crimes while increasing community participation.”
Across the state, more than 43,000 children received services from a children’s advocacy center last year, and statistics show more than 95 percent of the victims knew their attackers. Twenty-five percent of them were not yet in kindergarten.
Despite the large number, officials agree that such crimes are largely unreported by the victims or concerned community members, and Gillespie said the same is true in Erath County.
“We are a small community in a rural area, not where it’s more prevalent to see violence and abuse, so when it does happen, we don’t always recognize it immediately,” Gillespie said. “We don’t want to think such crimes are happening in our little community.”
Like the specialist at PRCAC, other rally sponsors from Stephenville Police Department and Erath County Sheriff’s Office; prosecutors, District Attorney Alan Nash and County Attorney Lisa Pence; representatives of Erath County Juvenile Probation; advocates at Court Appointed Special Advocates for the Cross Timbers Area and Child Protective Service and Cross Timbers Family Services are aware of the victims and the crimes against them and hope to encourage the same sense of understanding from fellow community members.
“We want to bring awareness and help fellow community members learn to recognize the signs of abuse and victimization so when someone does make on outcry they feel validated,” Gillespie said. “We each play a role in the investigation and healing of victims of sexual assault, child abuse or any other violent crime.”
STARRY Counseling, also a rally sponsor, and similar organizations are also vital to healing, according to Gillespie.
“Counseling is important for healing, but it also plays a role at trial,” she said. “Victims are better prepared for the traumatic event of taking the witness stand, because even though they’ve waited for the trial to come, they’re never fully prepared.”
The local chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.) is also returning to take part in this year’s rally, which shines a light on the unity of the sponsor groups.
“We try to emphasize the whole group, work together for the whole wellbeing of each person from investigation through trial and beyond,” she said.
Stop the Silence begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, with a welcome message from emcee Jody Lee Caudle with Texas Homegrown Radio followed by marches and chants and the flag presentation by Tarleton Color Guard.
Destiny King will since the anthem, local Girl Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Pastor Anthony Svajda will deliver the invocation. Tim Turnbeaugh is expected to perform the song “Alyssa Lies,” and Taylor Garza will perform “Scars to Your Beautiful.”
The event will conclude with the release of blue balloons, symbolizing the bruises – physical and emotional – sustained by crime victims.
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