On Tuesday morning, representatives of The Bridge, law enforcement officers, and Gray County officials gathered on the front lawn of the courthouse to plant 92 pinwheels, each symbolizing a child within the panhandle area who received services provided by The Bridge.
The wind was blowing, the pinwheels were spinning, and hearts were overflowing with gratitude.
“We are so grateful and honored that all of you are here to plant pinwheels for every child that we served for Gray, Hemphill, and Lipscomb counties,” said Courtney Nelson, Forensic Services Supervisor of The Bridge. “There are 92 pinwheels, so 92 children came to The Bridge and received the chance to tell their story. It’s because of all the hard work of our partner agencies from DPS and law enforcement to district attorney’s offices-it’s because of you guys that the kids come here and get help and get access to services. I was thinking about what it means to leave a legacy, and I think that every person in this circle is leaving a legacy of kids feeling heard and kids feeling safe and protected. They may not remember your name, but they will remember the time they felt seen and heard and that someone cared enough to help them feel safe again.”
“These are the kids who came to The Bridge, not including all those cases you had and all the calls you went out to investigate, including our troopers and all the stops they made on the highway. I’m just really grateful for our multidisciplinary team and for our crisis centers in the way they help kids along that journey once the case is closed and for CASA. It really takes a village and I’m so grateful to be a part of this village and work alongside all of you. This really is the biggest honor.”
The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center is a comprehensive, child-focused program that offers a highly effective, one-stop approach to child abuse investigations. The agency allows law enforcement, child protection professionals, prosecutors, and the mental health communities to work together to assist victims of child abuse and sexual assault in a cohesive manner.
In 1989, The Bridge opened as the first Children’s Advocacy Center in the state of Texas. In 1994, Bridge staff assisted in the establishment of Amarillo Area CASA. In 1997 The Bridge hosted a press conference where Phil Gramm announced the passage of the Sex Offender Tracking and Identification Act. In it’s 25th year, The Bridge opened its fourth satellite office in Clarendon, Texas. With offices in Pampa, Dumas, and Hereford, Texas, The Bridge is able to offer services to rural regions of the Texas Panhandle.
The Bridge Proactively:
• Engages community partners
• Implements impartial investigative techniques
• Coordinates case tracking
• Makes counseling referrals
• Educates victims and non-offending family members on victims’ rights, resources and options
• Offers a comfortable, private, child-friendly setting to conduct interviews
• Focuses on the health and future of child victims
• Strives to improve investigations while reducing harmful effects on children and families
For more information about The Bridge and the services they provide, call 806-669-1161 or visit their website www.bridgecac.org
