DFPS stops in Lubbock on 2018 Listening Tour

Representatives from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services stopped in Lubbock as part of the Department's 2018 Listening Tour.

They are working to get an in-depth view of the community and the family strengthening and child abuse prevent programs in the Hub City and surrounding areas.

During the event, the Lubbock Area United Way discussed the many ways it's using three DFPS-provided grants to help families and stop child abuse on the South Plains.

"We need their funding, and so we're hoping that we are going to show them that we've been great stewards of their money, that we have a very collaborative effort here in Lubbock with a lot of different entities working to make these grants successful, and that we still need these grants and this funding," said Carolyn Simpson, Community Impact Associate for the Lubbock Area United Way.

Simpson says the rate of child abuse is decreasing in Lubbock, but there's still a long way to go.

"In Lubbock we still have a very high rate of child abuse and neglect, and we know that that affects children under the age of five. But, we also know that a lot of that has to do with parenting, and we believe that we can make a difference if we work with parents in strengthening their parenting skills. Then that will reduce our occurrence of child abuse," said Simpson.

Mayor Dan Pope, Senator Charles Perry, Representative John Frullo, the Parenting Cottage, Catholic Charities, and StarCare Specialty Systems also participated in the event.

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