Child Abuse Prevention Month:
How Prevention Happens at Canopy Center

At Canopy Center, we serve children, families and survivors who have experienced abuse. Because of that, we think about prevention differently - as a continuum of care that reduces the risk of additional or secondary harm through consistent, trauma-informed support across every program and touchpoint. 

Our role is not only to respond to the harm they have experienced, but to create environments and relationships that reduce stress, confusion, and victimization. That commitment takes many forms.

• We remove barriers to care and support the whole family. 
• We create environments that feel safe from the start.
• We ensure already vulnerable children and youth don’t
  slip through the cracks.
• We provide therapy designed to support healing
  and prevent future harm.
• We help rebuild safe connections between children and their parents.

What does this look like?

But prevention doesn’t happen in a vacuum - it requires a community working together to create safe, stable environments where children and families can thrive. We’re grateful for the many resources in our area, resources like RISE Wisconsin and Tenant Resource Center that strengthen this shared commitment to preventing abuse.

Recognizing Online Grooming & Sextortion

Lately, it feels like every week there’s a news story about grooming, exploitation or child sexual abuse material. While new and existing legislation aim to address these issues, gaps in systems meant to protect children still exist. For example, in one of these recent news stories The Cap Times identified that the Madison school district has “no written policy prohibiting educators from texting students with their personal devices, which advocates and researchers have long urged to help protect children from grooming.”

In response, we want to share some guidance on how families and trusted adults can help keep young people safe on their phones and online.

You’ve heard it before - but one of the best things we can do is have open, honest conversations with young people about what grooming can look like, give them things to look for, and let them know which trusted adults they can turn to if they feel unsure about something they’re experiencing online. 

Traditional “stranger danger” messaging doesn’t reflect how young people experience the world online today. Today’s young people often feel like they know someone after talking to them online. 

Some red flags: 

🚨 Asking to move to private chats (Discord or Snapchat)
🚨 Requesting photos

🚨 Asking for personal information (school, address)

Just as we wouldn’t hand a child the keys to a car without teaching them how to use it safely, we also need to equip young people with the tools to navigate online spaces. One resource our CASA staff often recommend is NetSmartz, created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which offers age-appropriate tools for discussing online safety. 

Something Playful is Coming!

We’ve been building something special - and we can’t wait to share it with you! 

This June, we’ll be raffling off three, one-of-a-kind playhouses to celebrate childhood and help kids feel safe, supported and seen! 

Right now, the teams at TJK Design Build, WE Davies and Advanced Building Corporation are hard at work designing and constructing this year’s playhouses! Behind the scenes, we’re growing community support to make this new event a success!

Mark your calendars - ticket sales open in May, and the raffle will be held at the Mallards Game (go Ducks!) on June 11! 

Stay tuned for sneak peeks and more details in the coming weeks. 

In the meantime, take a peek at TJK Design Build’s playhouse being built here! 👀

Your Support Makes a Difference