The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Shiawassee County is proud to offer the prevention education programs to help eliminate child abuse and neglect. Preventing abuse and neglect before it occurs through education is not only cost effective, but also saves children and teens from the immediate and long-term social-emotional effects of abuse. We are proud to offer the following prevention programs: Stewards of Children - Darkness to Light, Circle of Parents Support Groups, ACT against Violence parenting program, Children in the Middle co-parenting program.


The Council's prevention education programs are provided through funding from the Michigan Children's Trust Fund, private donations and grants. Please consider supporting these programs as a way to prevent abuse and neglect.

Contact Marcia Bird for any questions or information regarding our prevention programs.

Baby Think It Over is an educational program geared toward middle and high school students, which stresses the importance and responsibility of responsible, planned parenthood and babysitting. Students are given special computerized babies which monitor appropriate handling and care.

This program also teaches teens the serious effects of Shaken Baby Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Drug Affected Infants, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome through specialized baby simulators. Baby Think It Over is part of an 8-12 week child care & development courses offered by the Council in coordination with local schools to over 700 students each year.

Teens may also enroll in Teen Childcare and Prevention and Teen Parenting Classes.

Call the office at 989-723-5877 for information or to enroll in one of the classes.

One of the best resources to prevent child abuse and neglect is to equip the community with the tools needed to promote safe environments. According to national data, l out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually abused prior to their 18th birthday.

The Personal Safety Awareness Program (PSAP) is a sensitive, comprehensive, and evidenced-based program that teaches elementary-aged children how to protect themselves.

Support for adults is also provided to the community through the Darkness to Light program. This an evidenced-based, national program available to community groups, parents of abused children, school and human service professionals, high school students and the community-at-large. It combines statistical evidence of child sexual abuse, real stories and interviews with adult survivors and prevention education tools.

In 2008, the Child Abuse Prevention Council began its newest prevention education program: Darkness to Light - Stewards of Children.

The Darkness to Light program is an evidenced-based, national program available to community groups, parents of abused children, school and human service professionals, high school students and the community-at-large. It combines statistical evidence of child sexual abuse, real stories and interviews with adult survivors and prevention education tools.

Stewards of children has been successful in other states in raising awareness and lowering the incidence of child abuse. Contact the Prevention Coordinator to schedule a presentation.