April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to focus on stopping the exploitation, neglect and abuse of society's most vulnerable. One way to do that is by ensuring those who abuse children are identified, arrested, prosecuted and punished in hopes they will not be able to harm another child.

That is where Children's Alliance Center of Palo Pinto County comes in. Its staff works with agencies to prosecute child abusers, and provides counseling and programs designed for early intervention and prevention.

Members of Rotary Club of Mineral Wells on Wednesday heard from Rotarian and CACPPC Executive Director Linda Porter-Bradford (pictured second from right), who has announced her retirement after eight years at the agency's helm. She brought her staff – Multi-disciplinary Team and Community Outreach Coordinator Sheree Patterson (right), Forensic Interviewer Kaitlyn Cothrum (second from left) and Family Advocate Kelli Montelongo – who each described their roles within the agency.

Porter-Bradford said CACPPC works with schools, law enforcement, courts and prosecutors to arrest and punish child abuse perpetrators. This often means difficult interviews with young victims, made more difficult because child abuse cases typically involve family members who have access to groom and gain the trust of their victims. Sometimes the abuse takes place continuously over months and years.