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Substance abuse contributes to child abuse, advocates call for community focus

According to the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, shifts in substance use trends that have had dramatic effects on children and families over the past three decades.
AFCARS Data
According to the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, shifts in substance use trends that have had dramatic effects on children and families over the past three decades.

Federal statistics show that drug or alcohol abuse-that leads to the removal of children from their parents has more than doubled since 2000. Today marks the beginning of April, nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Advocates for children have been watching the rise of drug-related domestic violence in Taylor county over the past few years.

The Big Country Court Appointed Special Advocates chapter in Abilene works with abused and neglected children. Rebel Taylor is the advocate, and events director for Big Country CASA. She says preventing child abuse is a community effort, “Child abuse and neglect is not just a ‘their’ problem, it is an ‘our’ problem. It takes all of us to ensure that these children get the help that they need so that they can be healthy and whole.”
When abused children can’t get that help, they become traumatized adults. Taylor says reaching these children early is imperative so they become productive members of society and break the cycle of abuse when they become parents.
Taylor says the Abilene community can help combat child abuse by reporting any suspicions of child abuse to police or donating money or essential items to CASA to be distributed to children. Community members can also help by becoming foster parents or volunteering with CASA.
CASA will also hold a fundraiser fun run for the community at the end of April.

The Big Country Court Appointed Special Advocates chapter in Abilene works with abused and neglected children. Rebel Taylor is the advocate, and events director for Big Country CASA. She says preventing child abuse is a community effort, “Child abuse and neglect is not just a ‘their’ problem, it is an ‘our’ problem. It takes all of us to ensure that these children get the help that they need so that they can be healthy and whole.”

When abused children can’t get that help, they become traumatized adults. Taylor says reaching these children early is imperative so they become productive members of society and break the cycle of abuse when they become parents.

Taylor says the Abilene community can help combat child abuse by reporting any suspicions of child abuse to police or donating money or essential items to CASA to be distributed to children. Community members can also help by becoming foster parents or volunteering with CASA.

CASA will also hold a fundraiser fun run for the community at the end of April.