The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a proclamation naming April 2019 as the Williamson County Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month during its April 16 meeting. There are 143,362 children living in Williamson County, according to 2017 Census data. In that year, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services conducted 3,113 child abuse investigations in the county and confirmed 596 cases of child abuse and neglect, data shows. In addition, the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center forensically interviewed 661 children, data said. “I have often said that the most precious resource we have in Williamson County is not in a gold depository on the west side; the most precious resource we have in Williamson County is our children,” County Judge Bill Gravell said. During the month, Kerrie Stannell, executive director of the CAC, said her team recommits itself to provide an environment for abused children that is safe and free from neglect. “With our success comes the success for children and families,” Stannell said. “While every month is important to us at the CAC, this month is an opportunity to remind the community how widespread the problem is and that keeping our children safe is shared responsibility that we really cannot shoulder alone.”

In other business:

• The Commissioners Court will hold a budget workshop April 17 at 10 a.m. at the North Campus, 3189 SE Inner Loop, Georgetown. The court will discuss priorities, challenges and goals for the 2019-20 fiscal year.
• The court will hold a public hearing April 30 regarding the setting of the rate associated with mandatory provider participation payments that Williamson County may require of all local hospitals for fiscal year 2019-20. The court also establishes how the revenue derived from those payments may be spent. The hearing will be held during the court’s regular Tuesday morning meeting at the historic Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St., Georgetown.