El Paso County proclaims April Child Abuse Prevention Month; human services officials cite 24,462 hotline calls in 2025
April 07, 2026 | El Paso County, Colorado
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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on April 7 unanimously adopted a proclamation declaring April Child Abuse Prevention Month and heard presentations from county human services leaders about prevention work and hotline volume.
The proclamation, introduced by Commissioner Weissong, states that child abuse and neglect affect every segment of the community and calls on residents, agencies, schools, faith groups and businesses to support families and protect children. The board voted 5-0 to adopt the proclamation and planned a photo opportunity and placement of pinwheels in the courthouse lobby after the meeting.
Stacy Quiddik, executive director of the El Paso County Department of Human Services, thanked staff and partner agencies and praised the work of child welfare employees. "They work tirelessly to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and youth while strengthening families," Quiddik said, and asked the community to support the department's work and its employees.
Katana Jones, director of Children, Youth and Family Services, reported that "in 2025, there were 24,462 calls to the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline for concerns involving children in El Paso County." Jones emphasized that not every call becomes an open case and that callers are not expected to determine whether abuse occurred — a concern for a child is sufficient to connect families to services. Jones also noted that blue and silver pinwheels serve as a visible symbol of hope and that a men's resource fair is scheduled for Friday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Citizen Service Center.
Commissioners thanked Human Services staff for challenging work. One commissioner, characterizing information shared in earlier briefings, said the department had been described as highly efficient and recounted being told it closed cases at a higher per-day rate than a comparison jurisdiction; that statement was presented as what the commissioner said they were told in briefings, not as an independently verified fact.
The proclamation cites community partnerships including the El Paso County Center on Fathering and encourages county residents to support families and children. The board will continue related outreach events this month and coordinated the post-meeting photo with staff.
The proclamation, introduced by Commissioner Weissong, states that child abuse and neglect affect every segment of the community and calls on residents, agencies, schools, faith groups and businesses to support families and protect children. The board voted 5-0 to adopt the proclamation and planned a photo opportunity and placement of pinwheels in the courthouse lobby after the meeting.
Stacy Quiddik, executive director of the El Paso County Department of Human Services, thanked staff and partner agencies and praised the work of child welfare employees. "They work tirelessly to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and youth while strengthening families," Quiddik said, and asked the community to support the department's work and its employees.
Katana Jones, director of Children, Youth and Family Services, reported that "in 2025, there were 24,462 calls to the child abuse and neglect reporting hotline for concerns involving children in El Paso County." Jones emphasized that not every call becomes an open case and that callers are not expected to determine whether abuse occurred — a concern for a child is sufficient to connect families to services. Jones also noted that blue and silver pinwheels serve as a visible symbol of hope and that a men's resource fair is scheduled for Friday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Citizen Service Center.
Commissioners thanked Human Services staff for challenging work. One commissioner, characterizing information shared in earlier briefings, said the department had been described as highly efficient and recounted being told it closed cases at a higher per-day rate than a comparison jurisdiction; that statement was presented as what the commissioner said they were told in briefings, not as an independently verified fact.
The proclamation cites community partnerships including the El Paso County Center on Fathering and encourages county residents to support families and children. The board will continue related outreach events this month and coordinated the post-meeting photo with staff.
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