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Elvia Mungia has a tough job, she's a sexual assault nurse who sees the abuse and neglect the children in Rio Grande Valley suffer first hand.

Mungia says, "I have kids that as I examine them I know that they hurt, I see it in their face but they're so used to being hurt and not having support they don't blink they don't say anything."

Muniga says the smallest child she ever had to examine was only five months old when she was assaulted.

Muniga says, "This is a five month old who could not say anything all she could do was cry when she urinated."

Mungia is one of several staff members who make up the Children's Advocacy Center of Hidalgo County also know as Estrella's house.  

The center offers a save haven for children who've suffered the hands of abuse.

Part of the process is being interviewed by a Forensic Investigator.

The conversation is taped and often times used by law enforcement agencies.

Forensic Interviewer Malley Akle-Jaurequi says, "What were here for is to provide a safe place for children to speak where it's not uh and office setting it's not a police setting." Estrella's house assists innocent victims like the little girl who wrote a Dear Santa letter detailing abuse as part of a class assignment. 

Back in December Andres Enrique Cantu was found guilty of sexual abuse and sentenced to prison.

Executive Director of Estrella's House Robert Garza says, "That was a great outcome for us." 

Part of the process is also healing, licensed counselor Velma Schimdt says children can recover, but they need to work through their trauma.

Schmidt says, "I do think children can bounce back and really leave healthy lives even after trauma."

At the end of the day it's about protecting our children.

Garza says, "That child might be in trouble and you as a neighbor as a cousin or a family member you have the right and a duty to protect our children. "