Last week Amarillo City Council recognized two very heavy subjects. These subjects are typically difficult to talk about but are necessary to be recognized and brought to light. This will help increase community support and awareness of the healing to victims of sexual assault and child abuse.

Amarillo Family Support Services responded to 426 victims of sexual abuse with 325 of those victims being children. Family Support Services staff and volunteers support advocacy, healing and prevention by offering crisis services, emergency safe shelter, counseling, support groups and awareness. They also provide education to schools, the legal system and community providers within the Amarillo and surrounding communities. In April, Family Support Services will be intensifying efforts to promote public understanding of sexual violence in an effort to reduce sexual assaults through public education and changing public attitudes.

Amarillo Area CASA, INC advocates for children of abuse through the efforts of trained volunteers, appointed by the court to ensure them a safe, permanent environment. Potter and Randall counties confirmed 1,056 children who suffered from some form of abuse or neglect in 2018. The City supports this proclamation to help urge all citizens and institutions, both public and private, to support CASA, as well as other partner agencies in their efforts to increase awareness of and services for abused and neglected children in our community. Our society has a responsibility to protect our children and help them thrive in a safe environment, as every child is entitled to be loved, cared for, feel secure and be free from all types of abuse and neglect.

We encourage citizens of Amarillo to consider these great organizations and to learn more about them and see how you can be involved to help bring an end to sexual, physical and emotional assault.

Last week Amarillo City Council recognized two very heavy subjects. These subjects are typically difficult to talk about but are necessary to be recognized and brought to light. This will help increase community support and awareness of the healing to victims of sexual assault and child abuse.

Amarillo Family Support Services responded to 426 victims of sexual abuse with 325 of those victims being children. Family Support Services staff and volunteers support advocacy, healing and prevention by offering crisis services, emergency safe shelter, counseling, support groups and awareness. They also provide education to schools, the legal system and community providers within the Amarillo and surrounding communities. In April, Family Support Services will be intensifying efforts to promote public understanding of sexual violence in an effort to reduce sexual assaults through public education and changing public attitudes.

Amarillo Area CASA, INC advocates for children of abuse through the efforts of trained volunteers, appointed by the court to ensure them a safe, permanent environment. Potter and Randall counties confirmed 1,056 children who suffered from some form of abuse or neglect in 2018. The City supports this proclamation to help urge all citizens and institutions, both public and private, to support CASA, as well as other partner agencies in their efforts to increase awareness of and services for abused and neglected children in our community. Our society has a responsibility to protect our children and help them thrive in a safe environment, as every child is entitled to be loved, cared for, feel secure and be free from all types of abuse and neglect.

We encourage citizens of Amarillo to consider these great organizations and to learn more about them and see how you can be involved to help bring an end to sexual, physical and emotional assault.