The Child Abuse Prevention Council Of Shiawassee County is proud to offer the prevention education programs to help eliminate child abuse and neglect. Preventing abuse and neglect before it occurs through education is not only cost effective, but also saves children and teens from the immediate and long-term social-emotional effects of abuse. We are proud to offer two new programs: Stewards of Children - Darkness to Light and Circle of Parents Support Groups.

According to FBI statisticis, 1 out of every 6 youth will be abused prior to age 17 & 1 out of every 10 will not report it. In addition, hundreds of children are the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome each year causing long-term disabilities and infant deaths.

The Council's prevention education programs are provided through funding from the Michigan Children's Trust Fund, the Shiawassee United Way, the Friends of the Council, Shiawassee Youth Advisory Council and other private donations and grants. Please consider supporting these programs as a way to prevent abuse and neglect.

Baby Think It Over is an educational program geared toward middle and high school students, which stresses the importance and responsibility of responsible, planned parenthood and babysitting. Students are given special computerized babies which monitor appropriate handling and care.

This program also teaches teens the serious effects of Shaken Baby Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Drug Affected Infants, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome through specialized baby simulators. Baby Think It Over is part of an 8-12 week child care & development courses offered by the Council in coordination with local schools to over 700 students each year.

Teens may also enroll in Babysitter Preparation Classes and Teen Parenting Classes which are available four times per year at the Council office. Call to be put on our waiting list for the next class - coming in the Summer 2009.

One of the best resources to prevent child abuse and neglect is to equip the community with the tools needed to promote safe environments. According to national data, l out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually abused prior to their 18th birthday.

The Bubbylonian Encounter is a lively interactive play designed to educate elementary students in 1st through 3rd grades about safe touching. It is open to every elementary school in the County and is presented to over 2,000 students annually. Parents, Educators and Students are provided with post-presentation prevention materials to help eliminate child sexual abuse.

Support for adults is also provided to the community through the Circle of Parents evidenced-based program. Open-ended presentations are available at the Baby Pantry, the Child Advocacy Center and other community host sites.

In 2008, the Child Abuse Prevention Council began its newest prevention education program: Darkness to Light - Stewards of Children.

The Darkness to Light program is an evidenced-based, national program available to community groups, parents of abused children, school and human service professionals, high school students and the community-at-large. It combines statistical evidence of child sexual abuse, real stories and interviews with adult survivors and prevention education tools.

Stewards of children has been successful in other states in raising awareness and lowering the incidence of child abuse. Contact the Prevention Coordinator to schedule a presentation.