Blog by Bridget Tobin, Mission Advancement Intern, United Way for Greater Austin
The Success By 6 Coalition is a network of child and family advocates – providers, parents, policymakers, civic leaders, and experts – with a shared goal to ensure every child enters Kindergarten happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in school and beyond. As part of our collective impact work to break economic barriers and build opportunity for all, United Way for Greater Austin convenes a Success By 6 Coalition in both Travis and Williamson counties.
To prepare all our youngest community members for school and beyond, we partner with local nonprofits to deliver impactful services in four focus areas:
- Healthy beginnings
- Supported families
- High-quality care & education
- Safe & stimulating communities
Together with our partners, we are transforming our local early education system, so that children and their families can reach their full potential.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and every month, United Way for Greater Austin and the Success By 6 Coalition work to support children experiencing abuse and neglect.
Faith communities are invited to participate in Blue Sunday, a national day of prayer for children experiencing abuse and neglect. Each year Blue Sunday falls on the last Sunday in April, and this year, Blue Sunday is April 28.
Child abuse and neglect statistics in Travis County and Texas have improved slightly since last year, but the reality is still heartbreaking:
- In 2023 in Travis County, there were:
- 1,018 confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect under the age of 6;
- 123 children under the age of 6 removed from their homes; and
- At least 2 children who died from abuse or neglect.
- In 2023 in Texas, there were:
- 31,416 confirmed victims of abuse and neglect under the age of 6;
- 6,186 children under the age of 6 removed from their homes;
- 164 children of all ages who died from abuse or neglect; and
- 74% of children who died from abuse or neglect were too young for school and not enrolled in child care.
We can do better, and our children need us to do better.
Join us on Sunday, April 28 to rally together for the children in our community and amplify our messaging around child abuse awareness and neglect prevention. (The Success By 6 Coalition is partnering with churches in the Greater Austin area to amplify this message as part of our Supported Families goal of the Success By 6 Coalition Strategic Plan.) Together we can ensure families in Greater Austin have access to the resources that provide them with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and social supports to positively nurture the health, safety, and development of their children.
Please join us in supporting this initiative! Here’s how you can get involved….
If you’re a faith community:
- Participate in the Blue Sunday Day of Prayer on April 28 by encouraging your members to wear blue or a blue ribbon in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month and sharing Success By 6 Coalition materials on child abuse prevention strategies
- Learn more about family support in Greater Austin and sign up to receive more opportunities to get involved with the Success By 6 Coalition
- Become a member of the Success By 6 Coalition, and join the next coalition meeting on April 25
- Share more information about the support services you offer to children and families with the Success By 6 Coalition, and how the coalition can support these
If you’re a parent or caregiver (examples: child care worker, Bible school teacher, nanny, etc.):
- Sign up for Bright By Text to receive tips on child development and engagement with the children in your life
- Follow United Way on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter @UnitedWayATX for more early childhood resources
- Continue to support healthy child development by reading, talking, and singing with the children in your life
- Use the tools you have to keep kids safe and healthy
- Become a member of the Success By 6 Coalition, and join the next coalition meeting on April 25
If you’re a family service organization:
- Learn more about family support in Greater Austin and sign up to receive more opportunities to get involved with the Success By 6 Coalition
- Become a member of the Success By 6 Coalition, and join the next coalition meeting on April 25
If you’re a business leader:
- Join other business leaders at Early Matters Greater Austin working to strengthen early child education and create family-friendly workplaces
- Learn more about family support in Austin and sign up to receive more opportunities to get involved with the Success By 6 Coalition
- Become a member of the Success By 6 Coalition, and join the next coalition meeting on April 25
If you’re a Success By 6 Coalition member:
- Share this blog with your own faith-based organization or with communities of faith in your network to raise awareness
- Participate in Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing Success By 6 Coalition materials on child abuse prevention strategies and effective ways to support all families
- On Sunday, April 28, amplify the Blue Sunday message on your organization’s social channels using #BlueSunday
Learn more about the Success By 6 Coalition on our website and sign up for our newsletter to receive stories of our impact, opportunities to get involved, and updates on our strategic plan work.
Source links:
- Texas Department of Family & Protective Services. (2023). Fiscal Year 2023 data: CPS completed investigations victims. Retrieved from https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About_DFPS/Data_Book/Child_Protective_Investigations/Investigations/Victims.asp
- Texas Department of Family & Protective Services. (2023). Fiscal Year 2023 data: CPS removals. Retrieved from https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About_DFPS/Data_Book/Child_Protective_Services/Conservatorship/Removals.asp
- Texas Department of Family & Protective Services. (2023). Fiscal Year 2023 data: Child Maltreatment Fatalities and Near Fatalities Annual Report. Available at https://www.dfps.texas.gov/About_DFPS/Reports_and_Presentations/PEI/documents/2024/2024-03-20_Child_Maltreatment_Fatalities_and_Near_Fatalities_Annual_Report.pdf