CHILDSAFE

Beginning Saturday morning on March 11, ChildSafe will distribute Cardboard Kids across Bexar County to empower families to discuss child abuse.

A trauma-focused treatment developed after the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary could help those indirectly affected focus on healing.

A Bexar County child protective advocacy nonprofit says the majority of child sex trafficking cases start online these days. It's imperative that parents stay vigilant to what their children are doing and posting on social media.

ChildSafe worked to meet the list of standards set by the Ecumenical Center to officially become certified for their use of trauma-informed care when treating abused children.

A San Antonio woman is turning her painful past into a bright and resilient future for victims of violent crimes across south Texas. Margaret Fernandez is the founder and CEO of the non-profit 3rd Street Closet.

SAN ANTONIO - – According to Childsafe, 90% of child sex assault victims stay silent -- something that Kenneth Anderlitch understands. “Last year we saw 5,200 plus clients, and 76% of them were sexual abuse cases,” said Maliha Imami of Childsafe. She is working hand-in-hand with Anderlitch, who is about to run 223 miles to raise money for the care center. He said the work and planning will be worth it, knowing he is helping break the cycle of sexual abuse, stigma and unearned shame. “99% of the perpetrators are known and trusted by the child,” Imami said.

click to enlarge Photo courtesy of Overland Partnersclick to enlarge Photo courtesy of Overland PartnersSan Antonio child abuse-prevention organization ChildSafe has won Fast Company's 2020 Innovation by Design Award in its newest category: wellness. Designed by Overland Partners , the nonprofit's nature-focused campus provides a nurturing and child-friendly atmosphere for the parents, counselors and kids navigating the healing and legal process.After five years of concerted planning between Overland, Guido Construction and ChildSafe, the $26.5 million ChildSafe Harvey E. Najim Children & Family Center opened in August 2019. The 43,000-square foot campus includes play areas, therapeutic green spaces, rooftop gardens and ample spaces for music, art and family therapy. "By strategic design decisions, we were able to invoke nature’s therapeutic benefits inside and outside of the building to bring a sense of calm to children and families during a daunting time in their lives, as well as staff members who work in stressful situations,” Overland Principal Michael Rey said.Included in the campus design are the environmentally friendly elements of solar panels, rainwater harvesting, the use recycled water for landscaping and advanced heating and cooling systems, all of which minimize operation costs and are sustainable.This August, Overland Partners landed the Design-Built Institute of America's Merit Award in the Civil/Assembly category for their role in the installation, located at the Blanton Museum of Art on the University of Texas at Austin campus.

"It's a perfect storm, unfortunately, for the perpetrators of these types of crimes." Child abuse is a serious issue facing the city, respondents said. (KSAT)Now that children are no longer in school or the public eye, perpetrators can hide abuse, McGibeny said. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services reports fiscal years 2019 and 2018 each saw nine child abuse fatalities in Bexar County. Click here to learn how you can report child abuse.