My name is Emily Spahn and I recently moved to Cortez from Denver, CO. I am serving with the Child Maltreatment Prevention Action Team (CMPAT) where I get to collaborate with the Piñon Project, the Four Corners Child Advocacy Center, the School Community Youth Collaborative, and the Montelores Early Childhood Council. I just finished up my Masters in Behavior Change for Global Health at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and look forward to applying my knowledge in that area to a child abuse prevention campaign that will be rolling out in the winter of this year.
I did a lot of work in Malawi (Southeast Africa) and one of my biggest pet-peeves was the number of non-profits that were working on similar issues, but never worked together and ended up re-doing or un-doing each other’s work. So, I am so excited to work within the Collective Impact structure with the Child Maltreatment Prevention Action Team to learn more about this model and how organizations can play off each other’s strengths for a common goal.
My role right now involves supporting the CMPAT in our various activities. Currently, we are working on running a media campaign targeting changing norms around who is responsible for abuse prevention; providing Mandated Reporter Trainings, teaching Safe Sitter babysitting classes, organizing family skill building events, and working on community outreach. In the past 6 months, we have trained youth in safety skills, life skills, and entrepreneurship; developed and held four family skill building events that provided dinner, bonding, and education to over 200 participants; started our positive norms change campaign; are in the process of holding a youth art competition; and have trained over 150 Mandated Reporters.
Child abuse is a highly stigmatized issue and, as a result, a lot of the cases go undetected. Not only does abuse affect the individual in the moment, but it also has long-term consequences for both the child and the community at large. This is especially relevant since the pandemic increases stress for caregivers, and children are spending more time at home. Let’s work together as a community to educate ourselves on how to prevent and respond to child abuse. Contact Emily at emilys@unitedway-swco.org to learn more, or if your organization would like to host a Mandated Reporter training.
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