How Cook Children’s Health System Fights Back Against Child Abuse
// By Lisa D. Ellis //
The faces of two beautiful toddlers practically jump off the Star Telegram’s website, their vibrant expressions and sparkling eyes captured so clearly on the screen that it’s hard to believe that both of these youngsters are no longer living.
Tragically, these children—who did not know each other but are both believed to be victims of child abuse a few years apart—each died suddenly, before ever getting to fully experience life. But at least there’s hope that their memories might serve a great purpose: to help save other children in Tarrant County, Texas, who are also at risk for experiencing child maltreatment.
Raising Community Awareness
Larry Tubb, senior vice president of The Center for Children’s Health led by Cook Children’s
These toddlers’ stories are being shared as part of an in-depth public awareness campaign, a collaborative effort between the newspaper and Cook Children’s Health System in Fort Worth, a not-for-profit system that operates a full continuum of pediatric care, including a medical center, physician network, home health company, Northeast Hospital, pediatric surgery center, health plan, health services, and health foundation. All of these services are geared to the varied needs of young residents of high-risk areas in and around Fort Worth and where child abuse is an ongoing concern in the pediatric emergency room and hospital, according to Larry Tubb, senior vice president of The Center for Children’s Health led by Cook Children’s.