By Lori Bredemeyer, Managing Editor

The number of children in Texas who have died from abuse or neglect has risen in the past year, according to an article on CNN.com.

More than 200 children died; the average is 3.3 for every 100,000 children, which is 65 percent higher than the national average, the article says.

What’s even more troubling than the number of deaths is that many of them probably could have been avoided. Adults, especially Christians, cannot leave prevention to Child Protective Services; we all have an obligation to protect children from abuse and neglect.

Although it might be uncomfortable or awkward to report suspicion of child abuse, all people, including Christians, must be vigilant in reporting any signs of abuse.

The Department of Family and Protective Services’ Web site says failure to report child abuse in Texas is against the law. Anyone who believes a child has been abused is required to report it to authorities within 48 hours.

So ignoring neglect not only is an ethical issue, but it can also result in punishment.

Texas has been in the news in the past few years for several ghastly child homicides, among them cases involving Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children in the bathtub in 2001; Deanna Laney, who bashed her three kids’ heads with rocks, killing two and maiming the other in 2003; and most recently, Dena Schlosser, who cut off her baby’s arms and killed her.

Last year, 206,978 cases of abuse and neglect were reported in Texas, 6,806 of which were in Abilene, according to the DFPS.

Several levels of awareness exist. Caseworkers periodically visit homes where abuse has been reported. But caseworkers can’t always see what goes on between parents and their kids because they only make occasional visits. The people close to children-neighbors, teachers, baby sitters, etc.-see families daily and can and should be the first defense against mistreatment.

Also, many ACU students work with children through Wildcat Kids, Treadaway Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Club and other organizations. These students are role models and confidants to these kids and could help save their lives if they see and report signs of abuse.

Prevention can also stop a cycle of abuse, as those who were abused as children are more likely to become adults who abuse their children.

The government is working to ensure that children have more protection in the future.

“Legislation pending in Austin calls for improving training for caseworkers and streamlining cooperation with law enforcement to bring abused children into the state system sooner,” said an article on CNN.com.

Those who know or work with children also should work harder to protect kids. Reporting the first signs of abuse to the authorities can help end vicious cycles, prevent trauma and death and ensure that our children remain safe.