Child Welfare Board kicks off month of awareness

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month with Jack County Child Welfare Board ready to help those children who need a hand.

So far during the 2018 fiscal year, which began Sept. 1, nine Jack County children have been removed from their homes with 35 investigations completed through February, the last month for which information is available. 

The Jack County Child Welfare Board was formed in 2007 and is comprised of volunteers appointed by the commissioners' court, serving as a liaison between the county and Child Protective Services.

The seven-member board helps to identify and meet needs of those children in protective services and also provides education regarding the needs of children and families in the county, including the need for more local foster families as well as maintaining emergency funds for special needs of families and children in the county.

Ways the board helps is through the Rainbow Room, an emergency resource center that offers help such as new clothing, shoes, infant supplies, grooming supplies and emergency items for children of all ages in crisis. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The room is filled through donations from the public, which are always needed. 

Donations are also used to benefit other programs for children in the county, such as the Gladys Johnson Ritchie Library, the food pantry and others. The board also assists families who have lost homes to fires, financially sponsor law enforcement officers and CPS workers to attend seminars and conferences.

The board is committed to helping any child or family in need, not just cases where CPS is involved.

A press release says needs are often quite basic with assistance changing the course of a child’s life. Something as seemingly simple as a pair of shoes, a coat or a notebook and pencils being the difference between a child who goes to school and one who doesn’t. Sometimes the difference between a thriving family and a broken one is having the money to pay a utility bill.

While donations are always welcomed, there are other ways that the public can provide assistance, including volunteering to serve on a committee including, community resources, fundraising, public awareness or by becoming a foster parent.

For information on the Rainbow Room or making donations, email jccwboard@yahoo.com or Debra Tillery 940-567-2241 and Leslie Jackson 940-229-4963. For other information on how to help, visit www.jccwb.org.

Update April 9, 2018: This article previously listed board members who are no longer with the board and their contact information. The article now reflects the correct contact information.