Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and partner agencies with the Dallas County Child Abuse Prevention Coalition (CAPCO) will host the Dallas County annual child abuse and neglect prevention awareness event on Friday, April 4. The event occurs in conjunction with April’s Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month.
Local child abuse prevention advocates and child welfare workers are invited to the event, which will be held in the Dallas CASA parking lot. In-N-Out Burger is donating lunch. The event will honor the four Dallas children who died due to maltreatment in fiscal year 2024. In fiscal year 2023, there were 13 child deaths, and in fiscal year 2022 there were seven deaths.
WFAA reporter Steve “Scoop” Jefferson will emcee the event, with Bishop Aaron Blake, Sr. from Harvest Family Life Ministries, providing the keynote address. Many child advocates will join the event, including University of North Texas student Selina Leija, a member of Push UNTil Success Happens (PUSH), a student organization supporting youth who were in foster care.
The Hon. Hector Garza of the 195th District Court, a felony court, will be on hand for a call to action and recognition of child welfare caseworkers and advocates, and Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Theresa Daniel will present a proclamation read at Dallas County Commissioners Court on April 1. The Dallas County Child Abuse Prevention Leadership Award will be presented to Leigh Ann Lozano.
CAPCO is comprised of several North Texas child welfare agencies, including Dallas CASA, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, the Dallas County Child Welfare Board, Family Compass, TexProtects and the United Way of Dallas’ HOPES Program. In addition to colleagues from Child Protective Services and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, EMPOWER, the Dallas Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit and the Dallas District Attorney’s Crimes Against Children Division are also invited to the CAPCO event.
Downtown Dallas buildings will be lit blue the evening of April 4 in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, including 400 Record, 1900 Pearl, Bank of America Plaza, Hunt Consolidated, Inc. (1900 N. Akard Street), KPMG (2323 Ross Avenue), Omni Dallas Hotel, and Reunion Tower.
When: program 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 4
Where: Dallas CASA parking lot, 2757 Swiss Avenue (corner of Swiss and Texas)
Why: Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) seeks to protect children, restore childhood and help child victims of abuse or neglect achieve their full potential. Judges assign the agency’s trained and supervised community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are living in the protective care of the state. For many children in foster care, their Dallas CASA volunteer is the only consistent, caring adult in their lives during a frightening, uncertain time. Dallas CASA envisions a day when all children experience safe childhoods and grow into resourceful, healthy adults. Now in its 45th year, Dallas CASA serves more children than any of the more than 900 CASA programs nationwide. In 2024, 1,009 Dallas CASA volunteers were assigned to advocate for 2,042 children in protective care. For the past six years, the agency has been able to provide an advocate for every Dallas child in need. To learn more, visit dallascasa.org.
