ABOUT US!

Since our beginnings in 1911, Exchange Club members have worked tirelessly to make their communities better places to live through community service, Americanism projects, and youth programs. Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) became the National Project of Exchange Clubs in 1979, a decision of the delegates to the 61st National Exchange Club Convention. At that time, our foundation was created to help local clubs establish community-based programs to work with at-risk parents. Today, the National Exchange Club Foundation (NECF) oversees numerous prevention programs, helps local Exchange Clubs develop and maintain community-based child abuse prevention programs, and supports Exchange's Program of Service, which includes Youth Programs, Americanism, and Community Service.

The National Exchange Club Foundation provides a variety of public awareness materials, designed to help inform and increase awareness of child abuse and how it can be prevented. Such projects are implemented through Exchange Clubs and Exchange Club CAP Centers across the country.

Our most significant and successful method of countering child abuse is by working directly with at-risk parents through our signature program, the Parent Aide home visitation model. The NECF coordinates a nationwide network of community-based Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Centers that utilize the Parent Aide program and provide support to families at-risk for abuse. To date, Exchange Club Centers have helped more than 691,120 families break the cycle of violence, thus creating safer homes for 1,727,800 children. The NECF provides training, accreditation, technical support, guidance in agency development and management, and other supportive services to these sites.

The Foundation has been endorsed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and was the winner of a Presidential Award from the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives. The NECF is a charter member of The National Child Abuse Coalition and is a Partner in Prevention with the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Each year, the National Exchange Club Foundation supports and engages in a number of activities to heighten awareness of child abuse and its consequences to our society:

National Child Abuse Prevention Month – The NECF endorses the month of April each year as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The NECF produces materials for Exchange Clubs and CAP Centers to use during April, providing public awareness project ideas, public relations information, promotional materials and community involvement suggestions.

Public Awareness Campaigns – The NECF believes it is important to educate the public about the serious implications of child abuse and preventable causes of harm to children. Brochures, public service announcements and other materials help Exchange Clubs, Child Abuse Prevention Centers, and the general public become better informed about child abuse and how it can be prevented. The Shaken Baby Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome campaigns focus on prevention. Believe in the Blue, Time-Out Teddy, KidCode, and other programs provide effective tools to help parents navigate challenging situations that can create risk for abuse.

The National Exchange Club Foundation is now embarking on a major fund raising effort, Investing in America's Future in an effort to broaden our reach and secure our future in preventing child abuse and strengthening families. We have already received significant financial commitments to launch this campaign, and our leadership is committed to the success of the endeavor. You can help by visiting our Donation Center.

Disclaimer:  The National Exchange Club Foundation oversees a network of prevention programs, and provides resource and referral. We are not authorized to investigate allegations of abuse or neglect, or offer legal advice. If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police. If you suspect child abuse and neglect, contact your state or local Child Protective Services. For crisis counseling, call ChildHelp at 1-800-4-A-CHILD. They can also give you the phone number for reporting child abuse and neglect.

 

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