INSPIRED IMPACT is an ongoing blog series that gives voice to purpose-driven organizations and passionate leaders and entrepreneurs who are making an impact in their communities and industries.
Victoria Strong is the executive director/primary program facilitator of Front Range Center for Assault Prevention. Follow them at Facebook and learn more at www.FrontRangeCAP.org.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
The Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project, delivered locally by the Front Range Center for Assault Prevention (FRCAP), is a nationally recognized community based primary assault prevention program. FRCAP is included in a network of CAP projects established in 25 states in the U.S and 13 countries around the world delivering this manualized/scripted assault prevention curriculum. FRCAP is the only program that provides prevention education which strategically focuses on the three most common types of assault: bullying, stranger abduction, sexual abuse. FRCAP also provides an avenue in which to report concerns or situations that could be unsafe for children/adolescents.
WHY DO YOU DO IT?
The mission of FRCAP is to reduce the vulnerability of children and adolescents to neglect, physical, emotional and sexual assault through the provision of prevention education and advocacy. The CAP Project teaches children and adolescents how to recognize unsafe situations and teaches them life skills and strategies to deal with these situations. All people have the right to live safe, strong and free! Safe from all types of abuse, strong both physically and emotionally and free to be who you are in every way possible!
WHAT IMPACT ARE YOU MAKING?
Since 1996, the Colorado CAP Project has been providing Child Assault Prevention workshops to Front Range schools and community organizations. CAP is a community partnership involving children, adolescents (preschool -high school), parents, caregivers, and school staff…all working together to help our children remain “Safe, Strong & Free!” We also must take this education a step further and help to create an environment where healthy relationships with peers, parents, teachers, etc. is more of the social norm than a social anomaly. FRCAP has served more than 115,000 Colorado children/adolescents in the past 21 years.
WHAT (OR WHO) INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE THIS IMPACT?
My children are a big reason why I do this work. And your children, too! A childhood free from abuse, bullying, trauma and pain is a right, not a privilege. However, we have to fight for this right for all of the people in our community. We are all responsible for the safety of our communities. Teaching empowerment based on a philosophy of human rights is a necessary, important, ongoing conversation that we should all have every day! If not us, then who??
WHAT’S YOUR BIG DREAM FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE IMPACT YOU WANT TO MAKE?
We would like to reach every single child/adolescent in Colorado at least three times during their K-12 education. Creating a true prevention team in every community involving parents, grandparents, neighbors, and schools. We would also like to create a universal language around our motto, “All children have the right to be …Safe, Strong and Free!”
WHAT RESOURCES DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THOSE DREAMS COME TRUE?
Like every nonprofit…funding! We have an amazing reputation and curriculum/programming. We have an amazing staff of facilitators to get the program into communities. We just need more staff to keep this important conversation alive and uninterrupted.
WHAT IS (OR HAS BEEN) YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
We are a small organization, but we are mighty in our impact to communities. Funding for marketing, advertising, getting the word out there about our programs has always been a challenge. We are wonderful at empowering communities. Not so wonderful at making sure everyone knows who we are and what we do!!
WHAT WORDS OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER LEADERS LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Live your passion! If you believe you can, YOU CAN!
HOW CAN OTHERS SUPPORT YOU OR YOUR CAUSE?
Financial support is always needed. Volunteers for fundraising events as well as our Board of Directors are also needed. Helping to get the word to all schools in the Denver Metro/Boulder area that we are here to serve their school communities.
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