SAC students showed their support and compassion for children who have been abused or neglected Tuesday, April 7, at the Loftin Student Center.  ChildSafe, a nonprofit whose mission is “to restore dignity, hope and trust to children traumatized by abuse and neglect,” sponsored the Cardboard Kids event.

Students decorated cardboard figurines that represent abuse victims, and the top three designs won a prize. There were 4,800 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect reported in the San Antonio area in 2024, according to ChildSafe, and the city has the highest rate of child abuse in major cities in Texas.

“We do this to bring awareness to our students and to the community about child abuse,” Office of Student Life Success Coordinator Joseph Liedecke told the Sundial. “In San Antonio, we rank in the top five in a lot of negative things, and one of those things is child abuse. One way to end these things is through education.”

ChildSafe Outreach Coordinator Emma Grimes highlighted the services her organization provides, such as therapy, advocacy and case coordination with Child Protective Services and law enforcement.

“Once either CPS or law enforcement receives a report that a child has experienced abuse or neglect, they have the option to send them to us, and if that process comes through, they have a forensic interview,” Grimes told the Sundial.

Grimes said a CPS or a law enforcement investigator can view the interview through glass, allowing them to ask the child questions. Interviews are recorded.

ChildSafe uses a family-centered approach, talking to parents and children about boundaries and offering free counseling services to abuse victims who are under 18.

ChildSafe began its operations in 1992 and is the only nonprofit organization in Bexar County involved in criminal investigation and civil legal proceedings, according to its website.

Part of their focus is talking to kids about finding a trusted adult they can rely on and feel comfortable opening up to, whether it be at school or in their home environment.

ChildSafe has activity books accessible through their website that help parents or guardians facilitate conversations with children about boundaries and safety.

“I felt good making a cardboard kid because I have a child of my own,” Administrative Assistant Melissa Campaco told the Sundial. “I cannot imagine another child going through torture and abuse … So making that cardboard kid makes me think of my daughter.”

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