Enrichment Programs as Tools to Prevent Child Abuse

As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, community partners across Crawford County gathered to discuss child abuse prevention tools. Rather than focusing solely on crisis response, this discussion—hosted by the 100 Families Initiative—explored how enrichment programs, the arts, and safe community spaces strengthen families and protect children.

At the heart of the conversation was a shared belief: prevention begins with connection. Whether through structured after-school activities, trauma-informed school programs, or community-centered art education, local leaders are creating environments where families feel safe, supported, and seen.

100 Families is a community-led initiative working to move families from crisis to career using collaboration and existing resources. It builds coordinated support systems across public and nonprofit sectors—like law enforcement, child welfare, education, and community programming—so that no family has to navigate hardship alone.

During this meeting, speakers from several organizations shared how their work directly reduces the risk factors associated with child maltreatment.

Jodi Cabanillas and Lexi Blasingame of the Boys and Girls Club emphasized the importance of structured supervision, caring staff, and consistent emotional support. Youth who attend these clubs not only receive academic help and healthy meals, but also gain mentors who invest in their well-being.

“These programs give kids the tools to become responsible, respectful, engaged citizens,” said Cabanillas. “They aren’t just numbers—they’re people. Every child has unlimited potential, and we’re here to help them reach it.”

She also shared her personal story of taking in her niece and nephew after discovering they were living in unsafe conditions. “The club literally kept them alive. It was a safe haven, and it changed the course of their lives.”

Coralee Young, Director of Development and Community Relations at Arts on Main, spoke about the transformative role that creativity plays in child and family well-being. Through partnerships with local schools, Arts on Main delivers hands-on arts residencies in subjects ranging from science and math to literacy and history. The arts, she emphasized, are not a luxury—they’re vital to emotional regulation, confidence building, and nonverbal communication, especially for children living with trauma.

“We know that even viewing art can lower cortisol levels,” Young noted. “For many of these children, the arts are the first place they experience positive reinforcement.”

The Rooted program, created by Monarch 61, brings trauma-informed mentoring directly into schools. Focused on middle and high school girls at risk of domestic violence, generational poverty, and sexual exploitation, the program teaches young women how to create internal safety, develop healthy relationships, and discover their voices.

“We work with girls who are navigating chaos at home,” Nicole Walton, executive director for Monarch 61, explained. “By teaching confidence and helping them find purpose, we’re changing what their future families will look like—breaking the cycle for generations.”

The public library was also highlighted as a vital tool in supporting families and protecting children. With no-cost programs like story time, afterschool clubs, and snack services, they offer stability and engagement to children across Crawford County. Many grandparents raising grandchildren rely on these programs especially to provide safe, structured spaces that reinforce learning and social development.

Child abuse prevention is not the work of a single agency—it’s a community responsibility. Whether through a free art camp, a consistent afterschool program, or a supportive adult who listens, these opportunities reinforce the idea that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported.