County commissioners have designated April as Child Abuse Prevention month in Collin County during the Collin County Commissioners Court meeting held Monday, April 20.

According to a proclamation read aloud during the meeting, every eight minutes, a child in Texas is abused. Last year, 151 children—including four in Collin County—died of such abuse.

In 2014, more than 254,000 children across the state, including 4,884 in Collin County were reported as abused or neglected.

According to the proclamation, victims of child abuse are at greater risk of delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, low academic achievement, mental health problems, and becoming abusers themselves by perpetuating the cycle of violence.

Effective child abuse treatment and prevention programs such as the Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County, CASA of Collin County and Family Compass are working toward a safer community for children.