Child Abuse Prevention Coalition - First Witness Child Advocacy Center

Vision

Our vision is a community that acts as a unified voice to effectively promote child safety and prevent child abuse.

Mission

Our mission is to educate and empower adult community members to step forward, speak up, and support the safety of children.

Prevention can be a powerful lever to move our society toward greater health and well-being. Child abuse programs have traditionally focused on individual family dynamics. However, we have come to understand that a community needs to work collaboratively and provide resources to families to prevent child maltreatment by offering services that promote education, understanding, and conditions that promote health and well-being.

The Child Abuse Prevention Coalition was convened in 2019 to form a community response against child abuse. The coalition, comprised of community schools, youth-serving organizations, medical and mental health agencies, and other community members, provides a unified voice and collective action to support children and seek an end to child abuse in our community. This coalition is committed to collaborating and learning together, building effective community outreach and support, and constantly working towards eliminating child abuse.

Through research, it’s been found that child abuse can lead to a broad range of problems including substance abuse, intimate partner violence, teenager pregnancy, anxiety, depression, suicide, diabetes, heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases, smoking, and obesity. (Fellitti et al., 1998; Repetti et al., 2002; Mercy & Saul, 2009) Just under half of child abuse victims do not tell anyone about their experiences for at least 5 years, while others may not disclose until they are adults- if ever. (Broman-Fulks et al., 2007)

Even when children do disclose, lack of effective adult response means that abuse often continues, or children do not get the help they need to heal. Data shows that one of the most important factors in minimizing the trauma of sexual abuse is the response the child receives when they disclose their abuse to an adult. Unfortunately, most teachers and parents do not have the knowledge needed to respond appropriately to disclosures of child abuse because this information is not openly provided. Through the Child Abuse Prevention Coalition, we hope to increase the community’s understanding of sexual abuse dynamics and make on-going education and information more accessible. It is also anticipated that this group will help to increase positive crisis response skills in school teachers and staff members as well as staff members in community non-profits. As well as improve our community’s understanding of mandatory reporting and schools’ protocols for responding to abuse.

The Goals of the Child Abuse Prevention Coalition (CAPC)

Collaborate with other community agencies and members to accomplish a broad base of community-wide support to promote safety for all children.
Strengthen our communities’ awareness of the precedence of child abuse.
Create opportunities for community members to step forward and participate in child abuse prevention.

Upcoming Events

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20Family Storytime and ArtFamily Storytime and ArtTime: 10:15 am - 11:30 am

Let's create and learn together! Kids birth to PreK and their caregivers. Start the morning with stories, rhymes, songs, and movement. Afterwards, continue learning through art activities that build fine motor skills, coordination, creativity and more! Storytime | Gold Room | 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Art | Green Room | 10:45-11:30 a.m. Gold Room
Main Library
520 W. Superior St.
Duluth MN Map Outdoor Family Fun Day!Outdoor Family Fun Day!Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
For families with kids of all ages. Come join us for sunshine and outdoor games in our backyard. We’ll offer traditional yard games, water games, and sensory bins for the littles. Our neighbors from Fire Station 8 and Duluth PD will also be there to show off their vehicles. This event will be rescheduled for Friday, June 27, from 3:00-5:00 p.m., in the event of inclement weather. West Duluth Branch Library
5830 Grand Avenue
Duluth MN Map Read to a Dog, with Dooley!Read to a Dog, with Dooley!Time: 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Dooley is a registered Pet Partners™ therapy dog and loves to be read to! Borrow a library book or bring your own. This event is for kids and tweens. Blue Room
Mount Royal Branch Library
105 Mount Royal Shopping Circle
Duluth MN Map Gardener's SoapGardener's SoapTime: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
This event is suitable for adults and grades 6-12. Visit our Apothecary and transform ordinary ingredients into magical soap. Learn to use melt-and-pour soap, an infusion of common plants, and oatmeal to create Gardener's Soap! If weather allows, our quest will take us outside to identify the plants we will be using and learn about their moisturizing and healing properties. Each participant will go home with a small bar of soap that will set within 24 hours and be ready to use after a hard day of work in the garden. *A material list will be available for those with allergies, and please remember that people with sensitive skin should always use a new skin-care product with caution. Registration required. Select 'Book Now' to sign up. Evergreen Senior Center
West Duluth Branch Library
5830 Grand Avenue
Duluth MN Map Book Bingo: Super Heroes & VillainsBook Bingo: Super Heroes & VillainsTime: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Never judge a book by its cover... unless you're playing Book Bingo! In a twist on a classic game, bingo numbers get replaced with book covers and other themes. You don't even have to be able to read to play. Win cool books just by playing! Fun for the whole family. Upcoming Book Bingo Themes:
May: Super Heroes & Villains
June: All American
July: Summer Fun
August: Bluey with door prize for showing up in costume!
September: Lord of the Rings
November: DINOvember
December: Christmas Evergreen Senior Center
West Duluth Branch Library
5830 Grand Avenue
Duluth MN Map