FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CELEBRATES PROMOTIONS AND AWARDS

By StyleMagazine.com - Newswire

Captain Kevin Hunt

joined the Houston Police Department as a patrol officer. After 20 years of dedicated service, he retired as a senior officer. He then transferred to the Port Patrol Division helping secure the Port of Houston. Captain Hunt was pinned by his cousin, Judge Teena Watson.

Deputy Kathryn Petrash was promoted to sergeant. She is a graduate of the FBCSO Gus George Law Enforcement Academy and was 2019 class president. She has proudly served within many divisions of the Sheriff's Office including dispatch, support services, and detention. She was also a member of Honor Guard. Sergeant Petrash was pinned by her father, Harris County Sheriff's Office Reserve Sergeant, Dan Petrash. Deputy Terrance Wall was promoted to sergeant. He is a graduate of the FBCSO Gus George Law Enforcement Academy. He obtained his basic instructor certification and was a member of Honor Guard. He celebrates 15 years within law enforcement, having also completed eight years with Fort Bend County Constable Precinct 1. Sergeant Wall was pinned by his son, Zion Wall.

During the ceremony, various divisions recognized personnel who went above and beyond in their role within the department. Surrounding partnering agencies were also recognized for their contributions including the Texas Rangers, Home Depot Investigators, Homeland Security, and Rosenberg PD. Service awards were also distributed to personnel completing 5, 10, 20, 25, and 30 years of service with the Sheriff's Office.

"It's always a great day when we see families and friends come together to celebrate," said Sheriff Eric Fagan. "Each individual recognized plays a vital role in the overall efforts of the Sheriff's Office to serve and protect the citizens of Fort Bend County."

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Worthing Early College High School officials on Saturday, Jan. 21 unveiled the “Stop Gun Violence Mural” at the school in Sunnyside as a call to action to stop the violence.

“Public art can carry powerful messages and this mural has a bold and important one: Our children are the ones frequently paying the price for inaction on gun violence,” Commissioner Ellis said. “But children are also the ones leading the movement for change. This mural is an incredible piece of public art that I’m proud to host here in Precinct One at Worthing High

School. I hope it will remind students at Worthing every day that they are never too young to lead a movement.”

Commissioner Ellis and Street Art for Mankind (SAM) co-founders Thibault and Audrey Decker were inspired to commission the mural after the shooting in Uvalde and the litany of school shootings that have occurred over the past decades. The message is one of hope for a future where students in their schools are safe from the threat of gun violence. Houston-based artist Bimbo Adenugba painted the mural with help from Worthing students. The mural depicts a school setting with the Houston landscape in the back - ground along with students and teachers holding signs. It calls for a ban on high-caliber weapons and a focus on safety and protocol when it comes to guns.

“This is particularly important in the context of a school, where the wellbeing and education of our young people are at stake. We must do everything in our power to protect them,” said Samson Bimbo Adenugba, a Houston-based painter/illustrator originally from Nigeria.

The Sunnyside, South Park, Greater Old Spanish Trail and South Union areas now participate in Harris County Public Health’s Community Violence Interruption Program, which focuses on youth and young adults at higher risk of being im- pacted by gun violence.. To break the cycles of violence, outreach specialists, trained in mediation and conflict resolution, work in the community with at-risk youth and in the hospital with survivors of violence. They also provide enrollment assistance to youth and families for benefits like food and housing assistance, medical and mental health care, which can help stabilize people’s lives and reduce violence.

Over the past decade, Texas has had more school shootings than any state. These deaths are preventable, Commissioner Ellis said.

“But instead of creating responsible gun safety measures, Texas has loosened our gun laws,” Commissioner Ellis said. “Despite the challenges created by Texas leaders fueling the crisis with dangerous gun laws, Harris County is working every day to prevent gun violence through art and meaningful action that have the power to save lives.”

January 23 was Maternal Health Awareness Day, a day in which Harris County Public Health (HCPH) highlights the urgent maternal and infant health crisis in the county and what Harris County is doing to combat that crisis. HCPH reminds families about the importance of knowing their risk and the many preventive steps that can be taken to healthier outcomes.

Pregnancy and birth can carry serious health risks to both the mother and the baby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. Over the past several years, there has been an alarming increase in maternal mortality nationwide and in Texas.

According to the most recent data released by the state, Texas has experienced a 25 percent increase in severe medical complications from pregnancy and birth between 2018 and 2020. With one of the highest rates of maternal morbidity among metropolitan areas in the United States, Harris County is at the center of this crisis. Black women are disproportionally impacted with 65 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 29 deaths per 100,000 live births for all groups in Harris County. HCPH is committed to improving health outcomes for families, particularly those in most need of care.

“The county is working to protect mothers and babies through communitywide investments in maternal health that include expanding health care access before pregnancy; addressing systemic racism within medical care; and increasing access to vital services and resources,” said Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “Black mothers and infants, compared to any other group, are at highest risk for serious health complications and death in Harris County. That’s why we’ve invested $7.7 million into a Maternal and Child Health Program to provide direct support to mothers and infants who are most at risk.”

Over the last couple of years, HCPH has taken important steps toward improving these statistics and HCPH’s Maternal & Child Health Program is at the forefront of its efforts. The HCPH Maternal and Child Health Program was established to reduce the risks and barriers families face in creating a health foundation. Our team has partnered with Healthy Families America, an evidence-based holistic model, to help expecting and recently expanded families improve their health outcomes through education, program assistance, and one-on-one counseling.

“Ensuring all families have adequate resources and education through a pregnancy and into the early childhood years is vital for better health outcomes,” said Harris County Public Health Executive Director Barbie Robinson. “Harris County Public Health has made it a mission to help hundreds of families with their pregnancy journey and our programs will provide more comprehensive and holistic approaches toward making sure families in need get the resources and care they deserve.”

It is also important to note the crucial role that ACCESS Harris County will play in our efforts to improve our county’s maternal health outcomes and support programming efforts. Through the ACCESS-Coordinated Care Teams, we will be able to connect participants with compounding needs to other service agencies across Harris County through a data-sharing system. Our coordinated care teams will be able to provide comprehensive case management, service needs and create an integrated care plan.

Understanding the U.S. maternal mortality crisis is the first step toward eliminating preventable maternal deaths. Harris County supports and recognizes the need for further investments communitywide in efforts to improve maternal health, eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote respectful and equitable maternity care practices.

Harris County Public Health’s wellness clinics provide consultations, health screenings, and referrals to eligible Harris County residents. To see if you qualify, call 832-927-7350 for