SAN ANTONIO \u2013 Bexar County leaders are considering a new program they say could help protect children during family emergencies and potentially prevent abuse, neglect and other tragedies before they occur.<\/p>\n
Barbara Schaffer, director of strategic planning, is expected to ask Bexar County Commissioners Court on Tuesday to move forward with developing a crisis nursery program. The proposal would direct county staff to explore procurement options and identify qualified organizations that could operate the program.<\/p>\n
The proposal comes after several high-profile cases involving children in Bexar County.<\/p>\n
Last year, 13 children in the county died as a result of abuse or neglect. Earlier this year, authorities alleged that Marlene Vidal<\/a> killed her children while experiencing a mental health crisis. More recently, a murder-suicide linked to domestic violence<\/a> in Stone Oak left two children without their parents.<\/p>\n Schaffer said those tragedies highlight the need for additional resources to support families before a crisis escalates.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are looking at creating a safe haven, 24-hour operation, emergency services for children that need to have a safe place and be in a protected space,\u201d Schaffer said.<\/p>\n A crisis nursery is designed to provide voluntary, short-term care for children while parents or caregivers work through emergencies such as a medical crisis, domestic violence, homelessness, a house fire or other unforeseen circumstances. Unlike foster care, parents would voluntarily place their children in the program while they stabilize their situation and connect with support services.<\/p>\n Schaffer said the proposed program would primarily serve children from birth through age 10, noting that younger children are the most vulnerable to abuse and neglect.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see a lot of little ones that get injured, and zero to three is the population that\u2019s most vulnerable,\u201d Schaffer said. \u201cWe lost 13 kids to child abuse and neglect last year, and so we\u2019re hoping that if we can create that safe space, that can prevent a lot of injury or trauma or just safety for children in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n If approved, the county would begin identifying organizations qualified to operate the program and determine the best procurement process before bringing recommendations back to Commissioners Court.<\/p>\n Schaffer said similar crisis nursery programs operate in other states, but Texas does not currently have one. If established, the Bexar County program would be the first of its kind in the state.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope to move as fast as possible,\u201d Schaffer said. \u201cThis has been talked about in our community for several years. It\u2019s been on my plate for almost a decade, and I think it\u2019s paramount in safety of children.\u201d<\/p>\n If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, there is help for you. KSAT has a list of resources<\/a> on its Domestic Violence webpage<\/a>, which also explains how to identify different types of abuse.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s an emergency, text or call 911. For wrap-around services, including the Battered Women and Children\u2019s Shelter, call Family Violence Prevention Services <\/a>at (210) 733-8810.<\/p>\n