Child Abuse Prevention
The Child Abuse Prevention mission program supports organizations in the community such as Child Advocates and Rainbow Room that deal with the effects of child abuse. For more information abour Rainbow Room, contact Benita Sebesta, 281.342.3930.
Child Advocates Of Fort Bend
Small Children Need BIG Friends
Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) is a non-profit organization that works on behalf of child abuse victims through two advocacy programs: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). Incorporated in 1991, CAFB’s mission is to provide a voice for abused and neglected children in Fort Bend County through the use of specially trained community volunteers and staff. Our work is based upon the belief that every child has the right to a safe and permanent home. For more information on CAFB go to www.cafb.org.
Did you know Child Advocates of Fort Bend serves more than 400 children each month?
- The child population in Texas in 2008 was 6,376,086.
- 71,344 children in Texas were victims of abuse or neglect in 2008.
- 430 of these children lived in Fort Bend County.
- ONE child in Fort Bend County died as a result of abuse or neglect in 2008. This is one too many!
What can you do? Get Involved! Volunteer.
Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) has a place for you. You can work with the children as a CASA or CAC volunteer, attend or help out with an event, or help spread the word about this problem in our community. They’ll find an opportunity for you!
- CAFB has served more than 8,000 children since 1991
- We have trained more than 550 volunteers since 1991
- 34% of our volunteers hold full-time jobs.
- In 2007, 173 CASA volunteers worked more than 9,000 hours and traveled more than 75,000 miles advocating on behalf of 278 children in CPS care in Fort Bend County.
- 987 children received Children’s Advocacy Center services in 2007, almost 100 more children than in 2006.
Contact Dena Jones at 281.344.5130 for more information about the next CAC/CASA Volunteer Training.
Rainbow Room
Another way to help children and families that are hurting is through the Fort Bend Rainbow Room. When children are removed from a home, they are not allowed to take any items with them--no toys, clothes, diapers, formula or any of the other items that caseworkers might need to properly provide for a child. Prior to the establishment of the Fort Bend Rainbow Room, local caseworkers frequently used their own funds to meet these needs while waiting for permanent funding solutions. Many of these expenditures were not reimbursable; nevertheless, most caseworkers could not refuse to feed or clothe hungry children that had just been rescued from abusive and/or neglectful homes.
It is stocked with emergency supplies that Child Protective Services caseworkers may distribute to Fort Bend families in crisis and is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The Rainbow Room relies upon the generosity of the community to provide for these needs and accepts monetary donations as well as new items including snacks, diapers, school supplies, clothes, toiletries, toys, and other items frequently needed to meet the emergency needs of families in crisis. They do accept gently used baby beds, car seats and high chairs.