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Children's Advocacy Center Hosts Child Abuse Awareness Luncheon
Sasha Neulinger shares his personal story of abuse to highlight the importance of advocacy centers for victims.
Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:06am
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The Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County hosted a luncheon to raise awareness about child abuse, with Sasha Neulinger, a survivor of abuse, as the keynote speaker. Neulinger emphasized the critical role of advocacy centers in supporting victims and helping them reclaim their lives after trauma. The event also addressed the underreporting of abuse cases and the need for early education to empower children to speak up.
Why it matters
Child abuse remains a pervasive issue, with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services receiving nearly 300,000 reports in 2025. However, many cases go unreported, as the average age of disclosure is after the victim turns 50. Events like this luncheon aim to shed light on the problem, provide resources for victims, and educate the community on prevention.
The details
At the luncheon, Sasha Neulinger, a victim of abuse at the age of 4, shared his personal story to highlight the importance of advocacy centers. He emphasized that children cannot advocate for themselves and that adults are responsible for identifying and addressing abuse. Neulinger believes that when children have the support of a child advocacy center, they have a better opportunity to reclaim their lives and recognize their strength.
- The luncheon took place on April 2, 2026.
- In 2025, the Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County had over 1,000 children come through the center.
The players
Sasha Neulinger
A survivor of abuse who was a victim at the age of 4 and now speaks out to help others tell their stories and advocate for the importance of child advocacy centers.
Riley Lorenzo
A representative from the Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County, who shared statistics on the number of reports received by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in 2025.
What they’re saying
“Children cannot advocate for themselves, they are still figuring out how the world works. We are the ones that are responsible for identifying what is right and what is wrong.”
— Sasha Neulinger, Keynote Speaker
“I truly believe that when children have the support of a child advocacy center, their lives don't have to be defined by the trauma they may have experienced. Kids, even though this is a hard moment, they have an opportunity to reclaim their lives and recognize their strength as they do it.”
— Sasha Neulinger, Keynote Speaker
What’s next
The Children's Advocacy Center of Smith County plans to continue its community education efforts to raise awareness about child abuse and the resources available for victims.
The takeaway
This event highlights the critical role of child advocacy centers in supporting victims of abuse and the need for early education to empower children to speak up and seek help. By addressing the underreporting of cases and providing resources for victims, the community can work together to prevent child abuse and help survivors reclaim their lives.
