Our Story

Child Abuse Prevention Center in Birmingham, Alabama, was founded in 1987 through the dedication and commitment of Alabama members of the National Exchange Club as the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center. The center has remained steadfast in its mission to strengthen families and break the cycle of child abuse and neglect.  We offer a comprehensive range of programs designed to educate, motivate, inspire, and empower participants to strengthen families and disrupt the cycle of child abuse and neglect starting from the prenatal stage.

We’ve received strong support from local Exchange Clubs, including those in Shelby County, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Irondale over the years. Our sustained growth and impact have been significantly bolstered by our long-standing partnership with Big Saver Thrift Stores, owned and operated by fellow Exchangite, Mr. Steve Kitchens. 

Our Programs:

Parent Aide Program: This program serves as a founding initiative and is a cornerstone of our services providing free in-home education and support to both parents and children. Through the parent aide model, our parent educators serve as mentors, offering guidance and support to parents and caregivers as they navigate life’s challenges, with a focus on addressing the specific parenting issues relevant to each unique family.

Safe Kids School Outreach Program: We consider this an essential school based initiative aimed at preventing child abuse by educating and empowering children in kindergarten through 6th grade. The program is designed to equip children with the necessary skills to prevent or interrupt physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and bullying. We are particularly proud of this program as it directly engages with the children we seek to protect. Since its launch in September 2016, the Safe Kids School Outreach Program has reached over 3,000 children each year in classrooms, empowering them to speak up and be safe.

First Teacher Home Visitation Program: This is our free parent education and family support initiative that utilizes the Parents as Teachers (PAT) home-visiting model. This program serves families from pregnancy through the child’s early years, providing developmental, hearing, and vision assessments. It is designed to empower expecting and new parents as their child’s first and most important teacher, enhancing early brain development and preparing children for school readiness.

Positive Parenting Groups: Our PPGs offer ongoing educational support, free of charge. These groups meet five days a week, both virtually and at various locations throughout the city. They are open to all parents and caregivers of children aged 0-17, as well as expecting parents who wish to learn more about positive parenting techniques and effective discipline strategies to foster healthy relationships with their children.

We aim to actively engage with the community and raise awareness to gain support for our mission. We have current collaborations with community partners, participating in fairs, and an ongoing effort of community outreach events. We are always open to exploring new partnerships and invite those interested in collaborating with us to contact us regarding potential opportunities.