Austin declares April Child Abuse Prevention Month and honors Upbring

Chito Vela, Austin’s mayor pro tem, opened a City Council ceremony by presenting a proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and inviting the nonprofit Upbring to speak about prevention strategies.

Upbring’s president and CEO, Mike O'Leary, told the council the organization focuses on neighborhood‑based "child well‑being zones" that combine data, case management and local partnerships to stabilize families before stress turns into crisis. "We not only wanna end the abuse, we want to change the systems," O'Leary said, describing Upbring’s mix of data analytics and locally rooted services in neighborhoods such as Rundberg.

The proclamation text read by Mayor Pro Tem Vela credited Upbring as a statewide leader in child well‑being and noted the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services provides media and educational resources to help recognize abuse. Vela said the city supports such work through initiatives including Generation ATX and pointed to the Runberg Child Well‑being Zone in his district as an example where families have seen improved outcomes.

Upbring highlighted services provided to families, including personalized case management, parent coaching, mental‑health supports, educational engagement, housing and utility assistance, and workforce readiness — tools the organization said help prevent abuse by stabilizing families at critical moments.

The ceremony concluded with Vela formally declaring the month and a group photograph. No formal Council vote or policy change was recorded during this presentation; the event was a recognition and call for continued community partnership and support.