1. TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT 46
OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAWNNA DUKES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
CONTACT: Lauren Postler (512) 463-0506
State Representative Dawnna Dukes Passes
Key Bill for Prevention of Child Abuse
AUSTIN, TX (April 18, 2005) — Today the Texas House of Representatives passed HB
1685 by Representative Dawnna Dukes (D-District 46), which directs State Agencies to
coordinate efforts to prevent Child Abuse. The bill creates the new Interagency Council
for Building Healthy Families and requires that specific State Agencies, as members of
this Council, develop an inventory of child abuse prevention programs throughout state
government to develop a comprehensive approach to eradicate disjointed efforts in state
oversight; a plan to build strong families and prevent child abuse and report this plan to the
State Legislature. "It is unthinkable that more than 200 children perished in Texas last year
from child abuse and or neglect. Prevention is key in addressing these frightening situations
experienced by our most vulnerable in society. Building healthy families that raise children
in nurturing environments is imperative to this prevention," said Representative Dukes.
HB 1685 requires that the Department of Family and Protective Services preside over a
Council that includes representatives from the following agencies that each individually have
some responsibility for child abuse and prevention programs: Health and Human Services
Commission; Department of State Health Services; Department of Aging and Disability
Services; Texas Youth Commission; Texas Education Agency; Texas Workforce
Commission; Office of the Attorney General; the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;
and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
The State of Texas depends on agencies, departments and commissions to support efforts to
react to and reduce the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. These agencies practice
certain prevention policies, programs, and activities which aim to prevent child abuse and
neglect. However, there is currently no method of joining the various agencies collectively
to collaborate on existing programs, assess the strengths and weaknesses of, and recommend
improvements for the coordination of these programs. It can be very confusing for local
entities who get funding from these agencies to meet all the demands or requirements of
these separately funded programs. "Many of our State Agencies conduct or fund activities
that impact our families; it is essential that these State resources are used in a cohesive and
coherent fashion that enables the local provider to build healthy families and prevent child
abuse," said Dukes.

2. Over 200 Texas children died from child abuse last year; Representative Dukes' bill will
create a State Council that can leverage existing state resources to Build Healthy Families and
reduce the incidence of child abuse.
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