September was a whirlwind at Canopy Center - in the best way possible! From welcoming new volunteers and interns to stepping into the community through exciting events like the production of Primary Trust at the Overture Center and Gamer-Never-The-Samer, a parody of the comedy game show Game Changer, we’ve had so many fun opportunities to share our mission. These moments remind us how much stronger we are when our community comes together. 

We’re also thrilled to share that Canopy Center was named one of the community’s “Favorites” in the Madison.com People’s Choice Awards, placing in the top three alongside The River Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul. This recognition is thanks to you - our incredible supporters! 

We’ve got lots of updates to share with you this month, so let’s dive in! 

🧷Trafficking Prevention in Action | With sextortion and other sexual crimes against children on the rise, we share an update on the impact of screening efforts for foster youth and new workshops being offered to empower all youth with the knowledge and tools to stay safe.

📢Stronger Laws, Safer Kids | Join us in asking Wisconsin legislators to strengthen child protection by closing reporting gaps in the law and ensuring child sexual abuse is never overlooked. 
🤙Tell Us What You Think | If you’ve supported Canopy Center in the past, take our survey. We’d love to hear what inspired you to support our mission, how you feel we’re doing and where you see room for growth. 
📲This Month’s Best Social Posts | Drum roll, please… Julie Ahnen, you won donuts and milkshake from Duck Donuts! Thanks for sharing our post on LinkedIn! Didn’t win? Follow us on social media and turn notifications on so you don’t miss the next give-away!   

Trafficking Prevention in Action 

At Canopy Center, our Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program has seen a notable increase in the number of foster children and youth served who have experienced, or are at risk of sex trafficking. Recognizing gaps in how the system identifies and supports these youth, CASA has spent the past two years equipping staff and volunteers with the tools needed to provide specialized support and to be a voice for youth in conversations with system partners and community resources. 

This work has never been more urgent. Reports of sextortion and other forms of sexual exploitation of minors have risen sharply in Wisconsin. In 2024, the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received nearly 11,000 tips - many tied to sextortion, a dramatic increase from just a few years ago.

If you’re a regular reader of our newsletter or follow us on social media, you’ve heard us talk about the impact of trafficking, particularly in Dane County. Research shows that as many as four out of five victims of trafficking have spent time in foster care. This is largely attributed to unstable living situations; emotional vulnerability; and a lack of consistent, supportive relationships which put them at greater risk of exploitation. But awareness alone isn’t enough.

Because CASA works exclusively with foster children and youth, we are uniquely positioned to make an impact. With support from our funders and community, CASA has developed an approach that combines education, early identification and support to create a safety net. Now, we’re ready to share what we’ve learned with the broader community. 

Stronger Laws, Safer Kids

At Canopy Center, our mission is to support children and youth who have experienced trauma by providing opportunities for safety, advocacy and healing. We are urging Wisconsin lawmakers to strengthen protections for children through Act 78 by closing reporting gaps in the law and ensuring child sexual abuse is never overlooked.

📃 Why Act 78 Matters

When something terrible happens to a child, we need to ask two questions: Did anyone see the warning signs? And what could have been done differently to keep that child safe? That is what Act 78 is supposed to do. It requires the Department of Children and Families and county agencies to report child deaths, serious injuries, egregious abuse or neglect, and suspected suicides of children in out-of-home care, so lawmakers and communities can learn and take action to prevent future harm.

 
But here’s the problem: the law doesn’t clearly define what counts as “egregious.” As a result, some of the most horrific cases - including those involving child sexual abuse - never get disclosed to the public or to legislators. This is important as child sexual abuse is the third most common type of substantiated maltreatment in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, 2021–2022). 

For example, a child under the age of five was sexually abused so badly that they required reconstructive surgery. The case was not reported under Act 78.

If the public never hears about these cases, we can’t ask the tough questions: Were the right protections in place? Could something have been done differently? How many children is this really happening to? 

📢 What Happens Next 

On September 30, the Assembly Committee on Children and Families and the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families will hold a joint informational hearing at the State Capitol. This hearing is an opportunity to review serious incidents of child abuse under Act 78 and reflect on how we can do better to protect children.

🤝 How You Can Help

We’re asking community members to stand with us by urging committee members to:

• Establish clear, specific guidelines for what must be reported.
• Explicitly include cases of child sexual abuse, ensuring they are never overlooked.

The committee members can be found in the links above.

Canopy Center stands ready to work alongside lawmakers, child advocates, and our community to ensure every child grows up safe and supported. Because at the end of the day, if we aren’t even counting or disclosing some of the worst child abuse cases, then those children stay invisible. And when children are invisible, they aren’t protected.

Tell Us What You Think

At Canopy Center, we’re committed to creating a safer, healthier future for children and families impacted by abuse and neglect - and we can’t do it without you.

We’d love to hear what inspired you to support our mission, how you feel we’re doing, and where you see room for growth. Your feedback helps guide our work and ensures we’re meeting the values of supporters like you.

This is your chance to help shape Canopy Center’s path forward. What matters most to you? Where can we grow stronger? How would you like to be involved?

Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting safety, advocacy and healing. 

✨This Month's Best Social Posts📲

Here's what got the most attention, since the last time we were in your inbox.

Are you following us? Your engagement increases awareness of Canopy Center in the community and helps us serve more people. 

Canopy Center is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to Canopy Center are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Canopy Center tax identification number is: 51-0211908.