Program aims to reduce child abuse, neglect
SAN ANTONIO — The City of San Antonio approved spending money on a pilot program aimed at reducing the amount of child abuse and neglects cases.
The two-year pilot programed will focus on the 78207 zip code, which the state said has the highest number of reports for child abuse in Bexar County.
“You can spot them right away because they’re either quiet or they’re very mean,” said Dolores Sotomayor. “They’re just rebellious and it’s just anger or hurt that they’re carrying.”
Until two weeks ago, Sotomayor lived in the 78207 zip code. She has experienced firsthand the dangers of child abuse. A family member was convicted of sexually assaulting her 14-year-old daughter in 2011. Sotomayor said they discovered her daughter has been abused when she gave birth to a baby girl.
“It was very difficult, but I had a large support team,” Sotomayor said.
"I believe that making children a priority will be better for the whole city," said City Council District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales.
Gonzales pushed for the city to invest $260,000 on the two-year child abuse prevention pilot program.
"It involves a promotora program where we will be training community health workers to go out into the neighborhoods and try to address this issue one-on-one,” Gonzales said.
The program will begin when the new budget starts in October.
