ATHENS — The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas has launched the “One With Courage” campaign, a statewide publicawareness initiative on sexual abuse of children.

“We are so proud to be part of this campaign,” said Leslie Saunders, executive director of the Henderson County HELP Center and Henderson County Children’s Advocacy Center. “The public service announcements are airing on television stations here and across Texas today as I speak.”

One With Courage is a the first public-awareness campaign of its kind in the state of Texas, centered around the courage it takes to talk about child sexual abuse — the courage it takes child victims to come forward and talk about their abuse and the courage it takes adults to talk about the issue, learn the signs and report abuse when it is suspected.”

The One With Courage campaign aims to educate Texans about the signs of sexual abuse, dispel generally accepted myths about the issue and provide communities specific steps they can take to make a difference in a child’s life.

Sixty-four children’s advocacy centers are in Texas, serving 158 counties.

The centers represent formalized partnerships with law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, and medical and men- tal health professionals and others who agree to work together to effectively investigate child-abuse cases and coordinate the delivery of vital services to victims and their families.

In Henderson County last year, the Athens center provided services for 510 youth and non-offending family members.

Visit www.onewithcourage. org, or call 903-675- 4357.