ChildSafe

Join us April 3rd from 1:30-4:00PM for an impactful Stewards of Children? training in honor of Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Month. This in-person session is open to everyone in the community who wants to learn practical steps to prevent child sexual abuse and create a safer environment for our children. See the attached flyer for more information.?Register today?and take the first step in safeguarding our children! https://lnkd.in/g9Hskgh5

Happy National Social Work Month!? ? This month and always, we celebrate the incredible social workers who dedicate their lives to protecting and empowering children and families. Your compassion, strength, and commitment make a lasting impact on our community every day.?We understand that as social workers, you pour your hearts into helping others, often carrying the weight of the trauma you witness. This vicarious trauma can take an emotional toll, impacting well-being over time. In honor of National Social Workers Month, we want to acknowledge this challenge and provide resources to help recognize, manage, and heal from vicarious trauma: ? ·????????Drowning in Empathy: The Cost of Vicarious Trauma | TEDxSanAntonio: https://lnkd.in/gCceCbG4 ·????????A Look at Compassion Fatigue and Resources for Social Workers?from NASW: https://lnkd.in/g9WgKwPv ? Your work is invaluable, and your well-being matters. Join us in thanking these heroes for the life-changing work they do!????#SWMonth2025 #CompassionPlusAction??

In 2014, ChildSafe created Cardboard Kids? which is a citywide public awareness campaign to draw attention to the pervasiveness of child abuse in our community during April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Cardboard Kids start an important conversation about what each of us can do to help prevent the tragedy of child abuse and neglect in our community. They provide a visual symbol for children to identify with and offer valuable tips for caregivers on how to talk to children about body safety.? ? Cardboard Kids are displayed throughout the community at workplaces, local businesses, community organizations, schools, and in windows of people’s homes. Each adult participant of the campaign does their part in spreading the word. ? To place your order and schedule your pickup, email us at?[email protected].

ChildSafe’s Trauma-Sensitive School Team is excited to collaborate with Dr. Robert Rico, the inaugural Director of Restorative Practices at UTSA. Dr. Rico will guide the TSS team to integrate trauma-informed restorative practices into schools and move away from punitive discipline toward accountability, connection, and growth.?? ? Dr. Rico has long been at the forefront of trauma-sensitive education and teaches undergraduate restorative justice courses at UTSA, shaping the next generation of educators and justice leaders.?Dr. Rico’s leadership isn’t just transforming school discipline—it’s shaping a future where students feel safe, valued, and empowered to succeed. His work continues to bridge justice, education, and community healing, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.?To learn more about all the incredible work Dr. Rico is doing as Director of Restorative Practices, click here:?https://lnkd.in/g9H3YwiZ!? ? Thank you, Dr. Rico, for your dedication to restorative and trauma-sensitive education!??? ? ChildSafe’s Trauma-Sensitive School (TSS) Program is helping schools implement trauma-informed policies that:?? ·????????Increase student achievement?? ·????????Reduce disciplinary referrals & dropout rates?? ·????????Enhance school climate & community engagement?? ·????????Expand access to mental health & support services??? Interested in learning more? Contact us today to learn more about bringing the ChildSafe Trauma-Sensitive Schools Program to your campus! Drop a comment or email ([email protected]) for more info!? #RestorativePractices #TraumaInformed #Education #UTSA #ChildSafe #StudentSuccess #SocialEmotionalLearning Image courtesy of Schools for Children, Inc. (n.d.). A Q&A on the benefits of restorative practices. Schools for Children, Inc.?https://lnkd.in/g_JAS_Rq??

This week, we are celebrating?Say Something Week—an initiative started by the Sandy Hook Promise, a national nonprofit organization focused on preventing and recognizing the signs of violence in schools and communities. Through this educational initiative, schools and community organizations around the nation are working to create a culture of youth upstanders and trusted adults. ? We believe that every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and heard.?Say Something Week?is not only about teaching students how to recognize warning signs but also about reinforcing the importance of being a trusted adult — someone they can turn to when they need help. As educators, parents, caregivers, and community members, we have the responsibility to create environments where children feel comfortable sharing their concerns without fear of judgment.?By supporting this initiative, we continue to strengthen the message that no one is alone, and everyone has a role in preventing harm. Whether it's through offering a listening ear, guiding a child to the right resources, or fostering an atmosphere of trust, being a reliable and compassionate adult is key to keeping our youth safe. ? Let us all commit to being those trusted adults and reminding the children in our lives that their voices matter, their safety matters, and we are here to support them every step of the way. #SaySomethingWeek #SaySomethingSavesLives

Our children can’t wait. For too long, San Antonio has needed a crisis nursery network to support families in urgent need. Now, ChildSafe, along with several other local nonprofits, are stepping up—but we can't do it alone. Read this powerful article to learn why this effort is so critical and how the community must come together: https://lnkd.in/gTJuPb2M

As we close this Teen Dating Violence Awareness month, we want to emphasize the importance of initiating conversations regularly with youth on healthy relationships and personal safety. Conversations about what constitutes a healthy relationship helps them recognize unhealthy or abusive behaviors early on and empowers youth to make informed decisions about their own lives and relationships. When youth understand the warning signs of manipulation, control, or violence, they are more likely to seek help or exit toxic situations before they escalate. To address the troubling rates of dating violence among teens in San Antonio, our Prevention team has had the opportunity to present the Love 146: Not a Number child trafficking and exploitation prevention curriculum to over a hundred middle school students. Not a Number is designed to provide youth with information and skills in a manner that inspires them to make safe choices. Youth learn to identify and utilize healthy support systems that may decrease their vulnerabilities. If you would like to initiate these discussions on your campus, contact?[email protected]?for information on curriculum and scheduling.

This past Saturday, ChildSafe Trauma Prevention Specialist Erika Hurtado presented with Dr. James Hernandez and Nehemias Moreno at the Alamo STEM Ecosystem Educator Conference on?Empowering Joy and Humanity in STEM!?Erika, as part of our Trauma Sensitive Schools Program, has been collaborating with Dr. Hernandez and Mr. Moreno throughout this school year to engage their middle school students through integrating technology applications with preventative education on emotional resilience and healthy socioemotional skills. Through an interactive curriculum, students were encouraged to process their own thoughts and feelings surrounding relationships-platonic, familial, and romantic, as well as expand their understanding of healthy relationships and social dynamics. This collaboration and implementation tailored to the campus and students’ specialized needs is a key defining characteristic of our Trauma Sensitive Schools (TSS) program. For more information on our youth trainings and TSS program, please contact?[email protected].

Did you know that children living in poverty are?5x more likely?to experience abuse or neglect (CDC, 2024)? Parents facing financial hardship have fewer resources to invest in their children and face difficult choices when trying to balance work and family responsibilities. Nationally, about 4 in 10 children under the age of 18 in the United States live in a low-income household. San Antonio, however, ranks second among the five main cities in Texas in number of children under 5 y/o living in poverty with 27% of them in this situation, which accounts for an estimate of 24,693 children. The rate of children (5y/o and under) living in poverty in San Antonio is?significantly higher?than the national (18.1%). Click the link to learn more about the status of poverty in San Antonio:?https://lnkd.in/gRTrHRcY. ? Strengthening economic support for families is a multi-generation strategy that addresses the needs of parents and children so that both can succeed and achieve lifelong health and well-being. The combination of systemic barriers and personal challenges can increase vulnerability. Addressing these root causes, such as providing more support to families in need or in crisis, can help reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. ? At ChildSafe, through our various supportive services and intervention strategies, we are attempting to address this critical issue through a multi-generational approach not only working with the impacted youth but with the family?as a whole.?We know that these issues cannot but be resolved with a band-aid solution, but with wrap around services available to families, especially in times of crisis. For more information on our services or with questions about abuse and neglect, visit our website with additional information:?https://lnkd.in/gjk3i36h.