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Each working day countless numbers of youngsters are living as victims of child abuse and that contains a staggering selection of kids appropriate listed here in Bell County.
In accordance to the Texas Division of Spouse and children Protecting Expert services, in 2020 by itself they saw above 250,000 alleged victims of youngster abuse or neglect.
Shut to 70,000 of all those conditions have been verified and in excess of 2,000 scenarios were being in Bell County on your own.
According to advocates for baby abuse victims at CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties, the current number of energetic cases in Bell County is nevertheless way way too significant.
”The stats in Bell County are somewhat staggering,” reported Lolita Gilmore, a recruiter for CASA of Bell and Coryell Counties. “Now, when we look at the 146th and 52nd district family courts that offer with baby abuse in their program we have about 1,100 cases.”
These figures are why hundreds of folks volunteer to assistance baby abuse victims by turning into a CASA.
”A CASA is a Court docket Appointed Particular Advocate,” claimed Gilmore. “It is what we contact your premiere volunteer experience and why is that? You come to be the voice of that baby. You grow to be the voice of actually, the full household unit.”
CASAs like Lexie Davis are equipped to have an understanding of what these young children are likely by since she herself is a little one abuse survivor. For Davis, the abuse commenced with her grandmother and other relations when she was a little one in the 1960s.
”They defeat her up, and she defeat us up, and we were being getting conquer up by them and her,” explained Davis. “Then the sexual abuse began from an uncle.”
It was not long ahead of she and the other kids ended up subjected to horrific acts these types of as becoming forced to fight every single other to stay clear of beatings.
”We experienced to bodily combat for their entertainment and the 1 that misplaced had to strip bare proper and get beat with an extension wire,” reported Davis. “I have a brother whose back again appears to be like he was a slave simply because he would enable me get.”
Now near to 60 yrs afterwards, Davis is a CASA and fights for children that go through abuse at the fingers of all those who are intended to secure them.
She does so knowing that her ordeals can enable a further sufferer of boy or girl abuse recover from all the scars left driving, both equally viewed and unseen.
”I can speak to them from a level of look at that is not judgmental,” claimed Davis. “I can realize them and I can provide them a little something that individuals who didn’t live by way of that cannot offer you them.”
Davis survived child abuse at the hands of the persons she called loved ones and stands tall currently with her message to the neighborhood.
“Don’t remain silent if you know or think a boy or girl is remaining abused due to the fact talking out can do much more than support, it can save their life,” explained Davis.
