Promatoras are helping address child maltreatment in District 5
UTSA, an urban serving university committed to tackling San Antonio’s grand challenges, is collaborating with District 5 City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, the Family Service and Northwest Vista College to reduce child abuse in one of the most economically distressed parts of the city.
Together, the partners are implementing and evaluating a District 5 Child Maltreatment Prevention Project that aims to provide Promotoras job training and subsequently place those Promotoras in the community to work with targeted, at-risk families.
In 2017, San Antonio had the third highest rate of reported child abuse cases in Texas, with a total of 5,588 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect. Within San Antonio, Child Protective Services referrals are higher in District 5 than in any other part of the city.
“We found that the most effective way to change that reality was through peer-to-peer intervention,” said Councilwoman Gonzalez. “That’s what the Promotoras are. Much like a ‘comadre’ network, they build trust, educate and make a difference from a position of familiarity.”
