ALAMOSA — According to a 2015 CDC study there were 683,000 victims of child abuse and neglect reported to child protection services in the United States. Please help Tu Casa’s Children’s Advocacy Center of the San Luis Valley Program and the Alamosa County Department of Human Services end child abuse and neglect by learning the facts. 

Tu Casa, Inc., the Children’s Advocacy Center Program, the Alamosa County Department of Human Services, and Alamosa Elementary 2-5 hosted the 5th Annual Poster Contest in honor of Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month which is observed in April. The winning posters will be used in a poster campaign in 2019.

The children were asked to draw a picture of what they hoped to be when they grow up using the theme “Speak up! Who’s Your Safe Adult.” Prizes for first and second place were handed out to students in each grade. 

The second grade second prize winner was Leela Gutierrez and first prize winner Simon Pittman.

The third grade second prize winner was Raquel Moreno and first place winner was Elijah Salazar. 

The fourth grade second place winner was Paloma Zahringer and first place winner was Abram Francisco.

The fifth grade second place winner was Haily Chan and first place winner was Lily Heersink.

The prizes that were handed out were donated by The Sand Dunes Recreation Natural Hot Artesian Water and the Alligator Farm. Tu Casa’s Children Advocacy Center of the San Luis Valley Program and the Alamosa County Department of Human Services would like to thank their generous donors as well as the Alamosa Elementary 2-5 School.

Also thanks go to Wendi Weideman, Molli Benton and Omar Gonzalez for their help in coordinating this event. Without the support of the community this would not be possible.

Captions: From left are Tu Casa staff with the 3-5th grade winners, front row: Raquel Moreno, Elijah Salazar, Paloma Zahringer, Abram Francisco, Lily Heersink, Jennifer McCoy-Hanna; and back row Shelly Martinez and Michelle Resendiz holding Haily Chan’s (not present) winning entry./Courtesy photos

From left are Tu Casa and Children’s Advocacy Center staff Jennifer McCoy-Hanna, Theresa Ortega, Michelle Resendiz, Patricia Lara, second grade teacher accepting award on behalf of Simon Pittman (not present), and in front second grade winner Leela Gutierrez.