Brighter World Child Advocacy Center is hosting an April initiative for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, inviting the community to take part in events focusing on child abuse prevention education.

The events, which are a part of the Root to Rise initiative, are inclusive and aim to provide support to children in the community.

“Root to Rise comes from the idea that as trees grow really big and their branches are really long, their roots have to be just as big for support,” said Brighter World Client Support Coordinator Cassandra Baca.

“For our children to be able to grow into these big, beautiful trees, they need to have a really strong support system that helps keep them up,” added Baca.

Steamboat-based Brighter World, a Better Tomorrow organization, focuses on investigating allegations of child abuse through forensic interviewing and working with local law enforcement and the Department of Human Services. 

The organization provides a safe space for both children and adults to speak about child abuse. Victims are supported through mental health care, medical care and advocacy to help children heal from abuse.

Both Brighter World Program Director Julia Luciano-Burns and Baca are trained forensic interviewers. This process focuses on gathering information from a child in a non-leading manner and is conducted while law enforcement and the Department of Human Services observe in another room.

Following the licensing suspension of Young Tracks Preschool and Day Care Center in Steamboat due to allegations of child abuse, Brighter World has been working closely with affected children and parents to assist in law enforcement investigations. 

According to Baca, Brighter World continues to assist in the active investigation and urges families to seek mental health support through the turbulent situation.

“As things are starting to come to light and the criminal case continues, folks will probably have more questions,” said Baca. “Unfortunately, the justice process is pretty slow …”

Baca emphasized the importance of educating the Yampa Valley about child abuse prevention, now more than ever. 

For National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Brighter World is inviting the community to learn more about child abuse prevention, mandatory reporting and other resources through educational events.

On Wednesday, Brighter World invites the community to attend a “story hour” at Bud Werner Library highlighting age-appropriate books about child resiliency and reaching out to safe adults. 

Following the event are two mandatory reporting training events, April 14 and April 18. These trainings are open to those 18 and older.

By partnering with the Steamboat Springs Police Department, Department of Human Services and Steamboat Springs School District, attendees will learn how mandatory reporters respond when a child confides in them about abuse or when they see abuse occur.

The trainings aren’t only for mandatory reporters, but are also for anyone who doesn’t understand the mandatory reporting and investigation processes.

“For most people, (mandatory reporting) seems like a foreign idea,” Baca said. “That’s the point of mandatory reporting training. The Department of Human Services and law enforcement will answer the questions that most folks probably don’t know the immediate answer to. Everyone is going to talk about how we get from point A to point C.”

For attendees with children under 18, Brighter World will provide child care for the duration of the two-hour event.

Baca added that free mandatory reporting training is available online through the Colorado Office of Children, Youth & Families.

“It would be amazing to say that through years of education and prevention work, the county will have no more child abuse because everyone will be safe, protected and educated,” said Baca. “I recognize that is a little bit optimistic, but that’s everyone’s goal in talking about child abuse prevention.”