B.A.B.E.S., Inc. Child Abuse Prevention Program

Mission: B.A.B.E.S., Inc. is committed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect by providing safe no-cost respite care, educational support and services, and counseling to young families.

Child abuse is preventable. Over one million children are affected every year by child abuse and neglect (Costs of child abuse, 2019).

Raising a family is one of the most challenging life processes. When parents are young and facing stressors – employment issues, relationship challenges, isolation from family, AODA issues, and a plethora of poor choices – rearing children becomes even more difficult. Without proper support, love, and care, these pressures/stressors can lead to child abuse, neglect, and maltreatment of children.

B.A.B.E.S., Inc. Child Abuse Prevention Program exists to mitigate these situations; to support young families. We’ve served our community since 1997; preventing child abuse by strengthening young families.

By strengthening families through support and educational programs, B.A.B.E.S., Inc. strives to prevent child abuse by breaking the cycles of unhealthy communication in relationships, and providing resources for growth, development, and advancement.

Early in 2019, B.A.B.E.S., Inc. implemented its new family education curriculum: Strengthening Families Program (https://www.strengtheningfamiliesprogram.org). The curriculum provides guidance for parents and their children, exercises to practice at home, as well as real-time experience during the workshops.

Strengthening Families Program (SFP) Workshops at B.A.B.E.S., Inc.:

• SFP Workshop consists of informative 14 sessions for both parents and children;
• Family-style meal each week;
• Celebratory completion ceremony each semester;
• Topics include – Communication, understanding what kids can do, discipline, Noticing and Ignoring, Identifying and handling stress;
• Family meal, group sessions, practical application session with the whole family; and
• Once a family completes the SFP workshops, the next phase in our program is participation in the Family Development Plan strategy. Each family will work with our community counselor to determine goals to work on for the next 12 months.

Supportive Services Offered:

• Respite Care
• Skill Building Sessions
• Family Events
• Care Packages and Diaper Bank
• Women’s Minds Project
• Thinking Cap Tutoring
• Starting Point 2.0 (see www.fvtc.edu/women for more information)