Mission: Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota was originally established in 1979 for the Prevention of Child Abuse and later became Family Support Network. Our mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting positive parenting, healthy families and supportive communities where children are valued and respected. In 2003, the name was changed to Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota (PCAMN) to more clearly reflect our focus and our work as the Minnesota chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. PCAMN works statewide with nearly 50 chapter affiliates to provide weekly parenting support groups to 2002. PCAMN provides tens of thousands of Minnesotans with prevention outreach materials, education, and training annually through regional gatherings and videoconferences. We partner with a variety of organizations to build awareness and advocate for systems and policy change that supports families.
Programs: Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota's programs include: Circle of Parents, a statewide network of chapters that sponsor weekly mutual self-help support groups for parents and their children. Parents attend groups to increase their parenting skills, strengthen their relationships with their children and break inter-generational cycles of abuse and neglect. A companion children's program is also offered. The creation and distribution of prevention resources starts early in the year to promote April's Child Abuse Prevention Month. Hundreds of thousands of pieces of literature are distributed statewide to parents, practitioners, schools, daycare centers, and other professionals. We also sponsor the statewide blue ribbon campaign that distributes blue ribbon peaceful parenting tip cards across the state. In addition, PCAMN serves as a clearinghouse for prevention education, services, outreach, advocacy, and training across Minnesota. PCAMN devotes significant resources to training network volunteers, partners, and other community leaders. Almost all PCAMN programs are offered at no charge to parents, volunteers, and our partners.
Donor & Volunteer Advisory
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I originally contacted Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota back in 2008 to find ways to get involved with the prevention of child abuse. Two years later, I facilitate a parent support group in my facility-backed by and chartered by Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota-called Circle of Parents. The Circle groups are spread throughout the state of Minnesota and offer parents an opportunity to network with other parents and learn new ways to raise their children. PCAMN stresses the importance of the parent voice and offers many opportunities within their programs to provide opportunities to parents so they may be heard. The work PCAMN does within the state of Minnesota is amazing! The staff are incredible and the organization offers so much amazing information that without them, our state would suffer. They have offered me growth, not only in my personal life but in my professional life as well. I am a survivor against child abuse and am a parent who made the choice to break the cycle of abuse. I am proud to volunteer with PCAMN and I support their work 150%.
I am recently retired as Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota. You might think that makes me a bit jaded, but not really. I chose to work at PCAMN after a long career in social services with children who were victims of abuse, neglect and severe emotional problems. I saw the desperate need for prevention to improve the lives of our children. As a survivor myself, I am painfully aware of what it is like to experience trauma and a toxic environment at an early age. For me it resulted in lifelong issues with obesity and now diabetes.
Joining PCAMN and working on the prevention of early adverse experiences was the best thing I could have done. We must all begin to look at the long term and work today to make tomorrow better for all of us - starting with our children. PCAMN does this. THrough public awareness, family support, and advocachy, PCAMN helps thousands of people each year to make their lives better. Your support means everything to this critical work on behalf of our communities and families. Thank you.
