Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in Stephens County, the state of Texas and the United States, and bringing the issue to the attention of the Breckenridge community are the eight women who make up the Stephens County Child Welfare Board.

Tommy Ruiz and Carla Barnes secure a banner providing child abuse statistics as part of the display in front of the Stephens County Courthouse. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Sharon Wimberley, Jan Davis, Linda Lippe, Alva Carey, Carla Barnes, Linda Burdic, Stephanee Russell and Teresa Reynolds comprise the local Child Welfare Board.

When a Stephens County child enters into the foster care system, the members of the Child Welfare Board are available to help the foster family with unexpected costs. For example, they may pay for a doctor’s visit or baby formula, clothes or school supplies, food or whatever the family needs. Additionally, they buy gifts for the children at Christmas and send them cards for other holidays, such as Valentine’s Day.

The money for the supplies comes from local donations and contributions from the United Fund. Wimberley said the board members send out cards asking for help each year but that often community members just give them money to help out. All of the donations are used to buy items for the children; the Child Welfare Board does not give money to foster parents.

And, every April, the Child Welfare Board members ask the Stephens County Commissioners Court to recognized Child Abuse Awareness Month, and then they decorate the courthouse lawn to remind the community that there are children in peril locally, as well as throughout the state.

This year, cold rainy weather hampered their courthouse project somewhat. But, Sunday afternoon, several board members joined some helpers and put up the display.

A large white cross surrounded by dozens of smaller white crosses honor the Texas children who have died due to child abuse. Interspersed among the crosses and around one of the large pecan trees in front of the courthouse are blue and silver pinwheels. Blue is the color traditionally associated with child abuse awareness, and the pinwheels represent hope, Wimberley said.

The display also includes sunflowers, bluebonnets and red birds, for remembrance and hope for the children.

Sharon Wimberley places a small cross on the courthouse lawn while Tommy Ruiz adjusts the larger cross. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Wooden cutouts of children and cartoon animals accompany a banner that informs passersby that last year, Stephens County had 37 children in foster care. Other statistics on the sign show that, in Texas last year, 99 children died from abuse or neglect and  53,543 Texas children were confirmed victims of abuse.

On March 24, Stephens County Judge Michael Roach and the County Commissioners named April 2025 as Child Abuse Awareness Month in Stephens County. Wimberley talked to the commissioners about the way the board members help the foster children and the assistance they receive from the community.

“At the end of April, we are having our annual Candlelight Ceremony with the judge and all who want to attend as he prays for the children who are alive and those who have died,” she said in an information sheet presented to the court. “Most of these are victims of neglect and abuse and are small children. So many of these deaths are caused by family members, and each year the number increases. This service will honor foster children by reporting their age and gender and (by praying) that all our children who have been abused will live someday in a world that is always normal. We pray that the day will come that bruises on children will be gone and the world will only have these colors of black and blue as just colors in their crayon box.”

April 27 will be “Blue Sunday,” and the Child Welfare Board is asking local churches to get in touch with one of the board members to get information to include in their services and prayers.

Joining the Child Welfare Board members at the county commissioners meeting were employees of Dr. Goodall’s House/Virginia’s House, including the new executive director, Kaci McKinzie. Dr. Goodall’s House is a satellite office of Virginia’s House, a non-profit family resource center in Graham. The two centers provide four child-focused programs, including mentor programs,  Children’s Advocacy Center, CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate, and crime victims assistance.

Stephens County Judge Michael Roach, center, presents a proclamation to the Child Welfare Board, declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness Month. Pictured, from left, are County Commissioner David Fambro, CWB member Stephanee Russell, Commissioner Tanner Wade, CWB member Jan Davis, Executive Director of Dr. Goodall’s House Kaci McKinzie, Rebecca Navarro with Dr. Goodall’s House, CWB members Linda Burdic and Sharon Wimberley, Commissioner Will Warren, Judge Michael Roach, Commissioner Mark McCullough, CWB members Teresa Reynolds and Linda Lippe, Crystal Flinn with 2Ingage, JulieAnn Greenfield with Child Protective Services, CWB member Alva Carey, and Tamara Booher with 2Ingage. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Kaci McKinzie, the new executive director for Dr. Goodall’s House and Virginia’s House, right, and Kellsi Easter, a family advocate and mentor coordinator for the organization, address the Stephens County Commissioners Court on March 24. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Thomas Ruiz, Carla Barnes and Teresa Reynolds place decorations on the Stephens County Courthouse lawn Sunday afternoon in honor of Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

A sign on the Stephens County Courthouse lawn provides child abuse statistics for the display that will be up through the end of April. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Members of the Stephens County Child Welfare Board and some helpers pose for a picture Sunday afternoon after decorating the courthouse lawn for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. Pictured, from left, are Linda Lippe, Thomas Ruiz, Tommy Ruiz, Sharon Wimberley, Alva Carey, Carla Barnes, Linda Burdic, Teresa Reynolds and Jim Reynolds. Not pictured are Child Welfare Board members Stephanee Russell and Jan Davis. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)