Texas State Agencies Essays - Substance Abuse, Child Abuse, Crimes

Texas State Agencies Back in the days where parents were 'involved' in there children's lives and worry free of any abuse of substances, abuse/neglect to the children or deficiancies in the children, there was no need for any state agencies to control and help what, if anything, went on. In todays society, though, there is a greater need than ever for Texas State agencies to do what they do. Also, more and more people today are joining in on the conveinience and ease of the World Wide Web that provides research, help/support and facts/statistics. *From here, we can go on to research and review the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse(TCADA), Protective and Regulatory Services(PRS) and the Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood(ECI). All which deal with adolescents and young children. One of the most important issues that teens and parents are battling over is the fact that alcohol can damage and even prove to be fatal if underage drinking occurs. Kids always think they know more than their parents, growing up later in life, they learn that parents are usually the wisest people they know, but until that time, kids will be kids. Parents will continue to be naive and more kids will die because of alcohol relations. The website on TCADA is quite resourceful in showing how a parent can perhaps save their child from this number one drug for teens. From helping a parent to being aware, consequences about teen drinking, warning signs, protecting your child by giving straight talk from the start of pre-school until the age of eighteen, providing tips for parents, to knowing the facts,danger, penalties, resources, which help parents and getting involved in an action plan, the Texas Comission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse is the main research tool any parent could want in Texas. A very helpful part of the site, the Tips for Parents link provides parents with advice on getting more involved with their kids, giving reasonable support and rules and getting to know the kids they hang around along with their parents. TCADA's number one idea is in the Straight Talk link section to start talking with your kids when they are young. "Set a good example. 'Do as I say, not as I do' doesn't cut it with teens. Adolescents can understand that some things appropriate for adults aren not acceptable for teens. But keep that distinction sharp. Do not allow children to mix cocktails, bring you a beer or sip from your wine glass"(Protect your Child; Tips for Parents, TCADA). This is how most children get to know their liking for alcohol, which makes sense, considering parents are role models for a good majority of the childs life, monkey see, monkey do. In the Know the Facts section of TCADA's website there are nine additional sites to refer to if is needed. The Get Involved link provides action plans and help from national, state and local groups fighting underage drinking. It can never be too early to start talking to children about abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Another form of abuse takes place by a parent to a child. It is sickening that there must be a site for childrens protection, but none the less, it also provides information quite useful for a parent or a person who is witnessing or hearing about child abuse/neglect in Texas. The Protective and Regulatory Services of Texas states, "In Texas, in FY in 1997, 103 children died of abuse or neglect. In FY 1998, that number increased to 176 children died of abuse or neglect. For both of the years, 36 percent of the children had prior involvement with CPS"(http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/news/factsheet.htm). Scroll down further on this site, and you will find the regions in Texas and how many children were abused/neglected. This site is informative in giving facts of 97-98 of child abuse reports. It also gives a 1998-99 Child Abuse Prevention Kit, Adoption registry,Volunteering opportunities and the Childrens Justice Act. The Legal Child Protective Definitions link is very helpful in describing what child abuse actually is. So many people see abuse, not realizing what it actually is or even thinking it's a good form a discipline the parent is using, when in all reality, we all know better. The Texas Child Fatality Review Team goes on to provide links to which can help you or someone you know help for children and their well-being. Perhaps, though, the most useful link is the 1999 Child Abuse Prevention Kit. It gives a list of resources you can use. It