Causes: Child Abuse Prevention, Crime & Law, Domestic Violence

Mission: The purpose of the child abuse prevention council is to provide an organized channel through which concerned individuals can contribute to and participate in child abuse prevention efforts in the community.

Programs: Hope! Drama troupe is a group of teens that writes and performs a play about child abuse and its effect on children and families. The 25-30 troupe members learn about child abuse through an annual retreat in august and then proceed to write and rehearse a 30 minute play which is performed in area middle and high schools throughout the year. Each year 5,000 plus students hear the message that it's not ok to be abused and to seek help. A variety of vignettes dealing with physical and mental abuse, drug and alchol abuse, sexual abuse, date rape, and neglect are covered in the performances. A facillitator trained in dealing with abuse is on hand to answer questions from the audience and to encourage students to seek help for abuse.

parenting classes are offered in several different polk county locations each quarter. All classes are free and some provide a free meal and childcare. Classes are held one night each week for one to two hours and last four to twelve weeks. Curiculums include: parenting children 0-5; active parenting now for school age children; real life parenting skills for parents in recovery; parenting children with behavioral difficulties; avoiding power struggles for parents of teens and other developed to meet special needs. The child abuse council also offers training for caregivers called nurturing healthy sexual development or how to protect children from sexual abuse. These trainings are designed to help adults learn how to protect children from sexual abuse and are provided for specific at-risk populations and the general public.

the council sponsors the free professional consultation team established in 1980 to help practitioners find the best treatment and service planning options to minimize the effects of child abuse. Consultations are free and scheduled twice monthly. The council participates in local community education events to spread the word about child abuse prevention.