Community profile: Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA)
Community profile: CAPA
Last week’s arrest in Beaufort of a local woman for child abuse that became a charge of homicide when the child died on Sunday brings to the forefront the terrible waste of young, innocent, helpless children at the hands of adults. Fortunately, in addition to the law enforcement and judicial systems that apprehend and bring to justice individuals who abuse and sometimes kill young children, there is a local agency committed to helping parents cope with the causes of child abuse and helping children escape this tragic fate: CAPA.
CAPA, the Child Abuse Prevention Association, is a local 28 year old agency that is designated as a charitable organization under IRS code 501(c)3. A United Way member agency, CAPA provides free and low-cost programs for parents who want to have a better relationship with their children. Additionally, CAPA has operated the Open Arms Shelter for Abused and Neglected Children for the past 24 years and sends staff members and consultants into schools and youth serving organizations to provide child abuse and neglect education, bullying prevention, effective communication and life skills, and adolescent pregnancy prevention deterrents.
Child abuse happens in all socio-economic, racial, ethnic and religious groups although it is now known that it does not occur equally over all groups. Children are at greatest risk for death from child abuse prior to their fourth birthday.
Children who have been physically, sexually and/or emotionally abused not only suffer a wide range of effects from their victimization, but are at greater risk to be abused again. Abuse commonly results in feelings of guilt, mistrust, violation, loss of control, lowered self-esteem and impacts the ability to make good choices in relationships. Even those who seem to be handling their abuse are often concerned that it might happen again, that they are to blame, and/or fear that future relationships might be abusive.
In the long-term, abused children often experience emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders as well as behavioral problems such as anger, hostility, and defiance. Frequently, they may display impulsiveness which manifests itself in antisocial tendencies and criminal activities when the person fails to think and consider consequences before acting. This can result in reckless, risky, or antisocial activities, such as driving dangerously, poor school performance and further abusive relationships.
Long-term studies of low achievers, runaways, drug abusers, prostitutes and incarcerated individuals paint a disturbing picture. Abuse is a consistent and pervasive element in their backgrounds. Low self-esteem and poor self-concept are ever-present.
Child abuse and neglect is a cycle that is often repeated when adults lack the skills and knowledge to break out of the cycle.
CAPA Mission Statement:
- CAPA exists to break the destructive cycle of child abuse and neglect by equipping parents, children and their caregivers with necessary skills, knowledge and values.
Vision Statement:
- All children deserve to be loved, nurtured and kept safe from intentional and unintentional harm.
CAPA Principles
- Excellence – commitment to meeting and exceeding industry standards through maintained accreditation and overall performance improvement.
- Ethics – ensure the highest ethical standards are sustained in our care of children, delivery of programs, goods and services, rapport with parents and operations of CAPA.
- Protection – provide a protective safe residential home for children who must be separated from their families due to allegations of child abuse and/or neglect.
- Education – continually provide opportunities to equip parents, children and the community in the prevention of child abuse and neglect through a quality integrated system of support, education, services and advocacy.
- Privacy – secure the privacy of all children and families.
- Professional development – maintain staff professional skills through training and education.
- Sustainability – committed board that insures the long-term financial strength, viability and growth needed to meet the agency’s goals.
CAPA’s office is located at 714 14th Street, Port Royal, SC 29935. Its mailing address is PO Box 531, Beaufort, SC 29901, phone: 843.524.4350, fax: 843.525.0070, email: capa714@earthlink.net, website: http://capabeaufort.org/.
The Beaufort Tribune is committed to informing the public about what is happening in our community, made up of the more than 60,000 people who live in the Beaufort area north of Broad River, Beaufort County, South Carolina. The Beaufort Tribune provides a forum and an advertising venue, free of charge, for charitable organizations such as CAPA to publicize their missions and accomplishments and to seek charitable contributions from the community.
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