Texas Border Business
Hidalgo County Commissioners Court has long been a strong advocate of the the Children’s Advocacy Center, Estrella’s House and during Tuesday’s meeting they approved a proclamation in support of the non-profit organization.
Estrella’s House was created in tribute to Estrella Rojas, a 2-year-old who was kidnapped and killed in the summer of 2000. The non-profit organization, is one of 800 Children’s Advocacy Centers nationwide, one of 68 certified Children’s Advocacy Centers in Texas and the first child-focused facility & community-based program of its kind in Hidalgo County servicing child abuse victims from 2 to 17-years of age.
The mission of Estrella’s House is to reduce the emotional trauma to child abuse victims by facilitating a multidisciplinary team approach, which supports the prevention of child abuse through community education and promotes the effective prosecution of those who perpetrate crimes against children. The center provides a safe haven with a child-friendly, non-institutional environment where young victims are not afraid to tell their story. Services include child forensic interviews, child forensic evaluations, family advocate/crime victim liaison, sexual assault nurse examiners, mental health services and prevention education & outreach.
Commissioners Court is mindful of the critical economic hardships and alarming reductions in Federal and State funding to all kinds of important social service providers such as the Children’s Advocacy Center, therefore they annually provide funds to the organization as allowed by Local Government Code Section 381.004.
Event Coordinator Pat Blum, Victoria Medina, Executive Director of Estrella’s House and Lorena Castillo, CAC Board President, thanked the court for their continued support.
The court commends the representatives from Estrella’s House for their commitment to the children of Hidalgo County and invites the public to participate in the Children’s Advocacy Center upcoming fundraising event Vinos! at La Antigua Revilla on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 7 – 11 p.m. For more information on this event, visit their website.
