With up to six troubled teenaged foster kids at a time, usually boys, Lionel and Cornelia Cheatham have a lot going on at their Kyle home. Getting the kids involved in sports is a key method the couple uses to help the teens. Ms. Cheatham was recently nominated by the Hays County Child Protective Board as foster parent of the year. (Courtesy Photo)
by KIM HILSENBECK
April is child abuse awareness month.
Child abuse is one of those issues no one likes to talk about. But for about one percent of the state population of children, they can only hope someone does more than just talk about it – and more than just in April.
Groups like the Hays County Child Protective Board work to give children who suffer from abuse or neglect a better life. The all-volunteer board is appointed by the county commissioners court and funded by the county and by private donations.
The funds are used to provide emergency medical care, school supplies, summer school, sports camps, band instruments, Christmas and birthday gifts, music lessons and clothing for children taken into custody.
According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Hays County had 265 confirmed cases of child abuse or neglect last year. One of those children died from abuse. Anna Farr, a volunteer with the Hays County Child Protective Board, thinks that’s one too many.
Many of the children removed from abusive homes enter the state foster care system. Farr says foster parents like Cornelia and Lionel Cheatham of Kyle offer a bright spot for otherwise hard to place teenagers.
Over the past 14 years, the Cheathams have fostered nearly 60 children. On average, they have up to six at a time; usually all are teenage boys, generally all troubled in some way, making them less likely to be placed in an appropriate foster home. For her work, the Hays County Child Protective Board nominated Cornelia Cheatham as the 2011-12 Foster Parent of the Year.
Farr said Cheatham and her husband set high academic standards and enforce them consistently with love. High-school-aged teens that are placed with the Cheathams attend Lehman High School. Farr said the Cheathams go the extra step to try to reconnect children with their biological families.
According to Farr, the Cheathams offer their foster children the opportunity to play sports. “Some of them have never played basketball or football,” said Cornelia Cheatham. Farr says Cheatham wins over the kids with her own knowledge about and enthusiasm for sports.
The Hays County Child Protective Board also nominated Child Protective Supervisor Nicole Mueller “employee of the year. “
Texas law requires all residents to report suspected child abuse. Any person suspecting abuse and not reporting it can be held liable for a misdemeanor or state jail felony. Confidential reports can be made by calling the Texas Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or reported online at www.txabusehotline.org
You can Help
The Hays County Protective Board accepts donations from private donors.
Throughout April, the board has been coordinating fundraisers through area restaurants, including Palmar that will donate a portion of its sales to the board throughout the day Sunday. If requested, Chick-fil-A will donate 15 percent of a patron’s bill to the board.
