When people first learn about Canopy Center, they’re often surprised to find out that we’re a non-profit; that we rely on the community to provide critical services to children affected by abuse and neglect. If you’re reading this, it comes as no surprise to you. You have shown up in meaningful ways and we’re excited to share how here. 

This newsletter has connected us to volunteers and community partners, and inspired donations (thank you, June), but the work isn’t done. Share this email with a friend or colleague and ask them to subscribe. The work we’re doing - together - IS making a difference. 

A special thank you to Only In Wisconsin Giving for awarding us a grant to help meet the sensory and emotional needs of the children we provide therapy for through our sexual abuse treatment program. 

This month we’re sharing: 

🧡 How Parent to Child Provides Safety for Families | A mother whose family participated in supervised visitation shares her story 
🏳️‍🌈 All Children All Families Seal of Approval | Canopy Center earns national recognition for championing LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity in child welfare
🤠 Stand Up for Kids “Ropes In” Over $66,000! | This support represents one month of services for 142 children! Scroll for a peek of all of the fun! 
💼 We’re Growing our Team | Explore our open positions and help us spread the word 
📲 This Month’s Best Social Posts | What got the most views online 

How Parent to Child Provides Safety for Families

May is Supervised Visitation Month. At our Stand Up for Kids event, we had the honor of hearing from a mother whose family was served by our supervised visitation program, Parent to Child. For her, supervised visitation represented safety and stability, in the wake of domestic abuse. When people think of supervised visitation it often brings up images shaped by courtroom dramas. But the reality is far more nuanced and compassionate. She ended her testimony with: “If the courts are going to give unsafe parents access to their children, then we need to provide a safe place for those interactions to happen.” Supervised visitation is not a punishment - it’s a tool designed to keep children safe and provide space for families to develop healthy parent-child relationships.

Her story began over 10 years ago when, shortly after they were married, her partner said: “Your time to ask me questions is over.” 

All Children All Families Seal of Approval

We are proud to announce that Canopy Center has earned the Building Foundation for Inclusion Tier of Recognition from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s All Children – All Families (ACAF) initiative for the 2024–2025 cycle.

This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming, affirming, and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ youth and families. Through staff training, policy improvements, and a focus on culturally responsive care, we are better able to support LGBTQ+ youth and families. This is especially important as LGBTQ+ youth are not only over-represented in the foster care system, but are also more likely to experience sexual abuse. A Children’s Rights study found that 30.4 percent of youth in foster care identify at LGBTQ+, compared to 11.2 percent not in foster care. Researchers have also found that LGBTQ+ individuals experienced higher rates of abuse as children, than their peers, with the largest disparities in sexual and emotional abuse. 

Participating in the ACAF initiative is an important step in our journey to advance equity and foster an inclusive environment for all. We are honored to be recognized and look forward to continuing our work to support every child and family with dignity and respect.

Stand Up for Kids "Ropes In" Over $66,000!

Stand Up for Kids is Canopy Center’s annual celebration and fundraiser - and this year, we did it Dolly [Parton] style! With donations still coming in, we have raised an incredible $66,479 to provide safety, advocacy and healing for children whose lives have been marked by abuse and neglect. 

A huge thank you to H Claire Photography for capturing all of the magic - check out the photos here. And if you attended, be sure to tag yourself and share your favorite moments with your friends! 

✨Our Best Social Moments📲

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.