Here at the STAR Program, we pride ourselves in our dedication to our clients and our community. We are a close-knit group who has bonded over our common desire to give to our community any way we can. In order to encompass the varied needs of our community, our agency's counselors have diverse educational backgrounds, along with an array of experience in the areas of youth and family work. Our program's diversity among our counselors allows us to draw from each person's unique perspective in order to better serve all of our clients. Our program also has the flexibility of providing counseling services without the restrictions of time or place. Whether we are seeing youth in their school, home, or elsewhere, neither cost nor transportation is a barrier that STAR clients ever have to face.
The STAR Program was developed to fill the gap in services to youth who are runaways, truants, at-risk of running away, or in at-risk situations and do not meet the criteria for child protective services or services of juvenile probation programs. The STAR Program provides counseling and outreach services to at-risk youth ages 0 to 17 and their families. STAR counselors provide short-term individual and family counseling, as well as skills-based groups. Services are provided in Brazos County (979-260-7336), Burleson County ((979-567-3216), Grimes County (936-870-3320), Leon/Madison Counties (936-349-0066), Robertson County (979-279-5232), and Washington County (979-830-1793). To initiate services, call the office in your county, or fax a referral to (979) 260-7567. Twenty-four hour crisis intervention is also available in all seven counties by calling 1-800-865-9921.
UPCOMING CLASSES:
First Offender Program
Tobacco Awareness Program
Truancy Program
UNIVERSAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
U.C.A.P
Focus: The Universal Child Abuse Prevention Specialist will focus on awareness of child abuse, with specific emphasis placed on defining abuse and neglect. The Prevention Specialist will relay recent statistics on child abuse and neglect, and present preventative measures to help parents refrain from crossing the threshold of what is now considered child abuse or neglect.
What the Law says: Anyone having cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect MUST report the case to any state or local law enforcement agency, or to the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. Failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Reporting: A verbal report must be made immediately (within 48 hours) to the nearest Child Protective Service office, to the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline (800-252-5400) or to local law enforcement officials. As a follow-up, a written report must be made to the Department of Family and Protective Services within five days.
Prevention: Our society clearly understands the need for a child welfare system. However, it is more of a challenge to comprehend the origins of abuse, the long-term effects, and how individuals and society as a whole can be on the forefront of preventing negative outcomes from occurring. Child abuse and neglect is a world wide social phenomenon that has yet to be conquered. Although many institutions and organizations have made progress addressing it, intervention remains the primary focus. Until the prevention of child maltreatment becomes a priority in our society, we will never make significant reductions in the numbers of children abused or neglected every year. Understanding the value of prevention does not mean there is not a need for a child welfare system. It simply means that our laws, regulations, appropriations and practices must now reflect prevention as our first responsibility.
STATISTICS:
Every 11 seconds a child is reported abused or neglected,
Every 2 hours a child is a homicide victim,
Four children die from child abuse every day,
689 babies are born with inadequate prenatal care every day,
13,700 children are abused and neglected,
50% of abused children have school related problems,
60-70% of physically abused children suffer bruises and welts; 15-20% incur skeletal injury,
50% of runaway youth have been physically abused and an even greater percentage have been sexually abused,
90% of convicted murderers were physically abused as children,
60-80% of adult drug or alcohol abusers have a history of child abuse.
(these statistics were obtained from www.preventchildabusetexas.org )
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COMMUNITY AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS, CALL: (979) 260-7336 OR (800) 865-9921.
